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C++ How I built my basic calculator in C++

Malcolm

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Hello Coders!

Today, I want to teach you how I created a basic C++ calculator. I built this calculator to help practice my newly learnt knowledge with C++.

In my online Udemy course, I was taught how to display text to the console, collect user input and store them into variables. With this I wanted to practice what I learned, so I decided what could I make to help me understand what I just learned. I thought of a few ideas such as an age checker and a calculator. You're probably thinking "...oh you did the age checker first" nope, I went on to do the calculator simply because at this point haven't yet learned how to use functions in C++ and would require this to make an age checker but I learned how to create functions shortly after.

So now that I had a calculator in mind to build to test my knowledge I had to figure out what I had to do in order for me to create this calculator. Before I thought about how to build it, I needed to come up with a plan. I did not want to start building this calculator and getting stuck because I have created an unachievable goal that I had set for myself due to wanting to add advanced features. Then that's when I came up with a chart, a two-column table labelled: my must-haves and later haves. Similar to the one below:

Must HaveLater Have
  • Take two numbers and turn it into a result (Add).
  • Make sure that the user can understand what the calculator is asking for and what it is displayed (So instructions).
  • Read character input and determine what mathematical operator to use (+, -, / and *).
  • A visable UI.

So now that I had a guide of what I should be focused on, I went onto the next step... I thought, Okay, I need to have a place to store the value 1 and 2 then the final result. I had to create three variables: firstNum, secondNum and finalNum.

Within my int main() {} I added the following integers without value(s) as they will be filled later.
C++:
int firstNum;
int secondNum;
int finalNum;
Now, that I have my variables I need to be able to ask the user to input their first number. Just what I mentioned within my Must have column, I need to make sure that the user understands how to use my calculator. In order for me to do this, I need to display text to the console, I do this by writing the following line: std::cout << "Input first number" << std::endl;. Now, I need for the console to listen to user input and store it into the variable firstNum. I add the following line: std::cin >> firstNum;. This will now store whatever is inputted by the user into the firstNum variable.

I have the first number, I need to get the users second number. I repeat the above instructions: std::cout << "Input second number" << std::endl; and std::cin >> secondNum;.

All together this will look like:
C++:
int firstNum;
int secondNum;
int finalNum;

// Asking for first number
std::cout << "Input first number" << std::endl;
std::cin >> firstNum;

// Asking for second number
std::cout << "Input second number" << std::endl;
std::cin >> secondNum;

Let's add the two numbers that the user had inputted. I did this by saying I want to have finalNum equal to firstNum+secondNum. This will make the finalNum be the result of adding both firstNum and secondNum together. Now, that we have the final number let's display it to the user.
C++:
std::cout << "Your result:" << std::endl;
std::cout << finalNum << std::endl;
This will then display the result to the console.

Now all together!
[CODE lang="cpp" title="All together"]
#include <iostream>

int main (){
int firstNum;
int secondNum;
int finalNum;

// Asking for first number
std::cout << "Input first number" << std::endl;
std::cin >> firstNum;

// Asking for second number
std::cout << "Input second number" << std::endl;
std::cin >> secondNum;

// Add two values together into finalNum
finalNum = firstNum+secondNum;

//Display result to user
std::cout << "Your result" << std::endl;
std::cout << finalNum << std::endl;

return 0;
}[/CODE]
I hope that I inspired you guys to learn, practice, build and share! :)
 
Last edited:

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