Guessing Game

[BrotherFromAnotherMother]

hmm

[rich1]

first idea that came up to my mind:

1) read a number of data to be evaluated from file
2) use for statement to count
a) read two integers (one of them will be negative due to dash)
b) read a string that will hold letters
c) do the average of absolute values of those integers
d) go through the string and modify the average value according to letters

[BrotherFromAnotherMother]

If I do the average thing, then I'd be doing this?
1) 1+5 = 6/2 = 3
2) 5+20 = 25/2 = 12 (having type int)
3) 40+44 = 84/2 = 42

I could get the right outputs except for #2 because I would be getting 16 (12+4), instead of the right output which is 19 (according to the sample, that is).

And, how do I do it with pointers...

[j3Rz8vqX]

The strategy provided sounds like binary search (Google "Binary Search" for more detail).

Your first process of calculating the average is correct.

1) 1+5 = 6/2 = 3
2) 5+20 = 25/2 = 12 (having type int)
3) 40+44 = 84/2 = 42

The reason why it doesn't seem to make sense for #2 is because your missing a step.

Your instruction quote: "The process is repeated until the number is found."

You need to repeat the process, not average once then increment/decrement by a unit.

Instead you should determine your minimum and maximum, then redetermine these every time the loop is repeated.

Example:(rounding down)

First Cycle: Min=1, Max=5, Average=3; // L, max=average;
Second Cycle: Min=1, Max=3, Average=2; // L, max=average;
Third Cycle: Min=1, Max=2, Average=1; // Y

First Cycle: Min=5, Max=20, Average=12; // H, min=average;
Second Cycle: Min=12, Max=20, Average=16; // H, min=average;
Third Cycle: Min=16, Max=20, Average=18; // H, min=average;
Fourth Cycle: Min=18, Max=20, Average=19; // Y

First Cycle: Min=40, Max=44, Average=42; // Y


Not sure why you would get "HHHHY" on #2 though.
If you're accidentally counting loops, you might want to consider counting High's and Low's instead.

And if the count is correctly embedded, then possibly your output may be counting from 0 when producing the "H"s in the string output. (Too many factors)
--------------------------

As for Pointers, I do not recommend using pointers unless you know what your doing.

Pointers are mainly used to share direct memory access of address to objects/functions that are out of scope. And even then, it's more simple to pass by reference; especially for primitives.

But if you must:
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/pointers/

Good Luck.

[cire]

Keep track of the min and range (difference between max and min). Once you've read in the initial minimum value and calculated the range, traverse the line string with a pointer to (const) char and update min and range as appropriate until you reach a 'Y'. At that point, you'll be able to pick the correct number.

[BrotherFromAnotherMother]

Thanks for the ideas. I'll let you know if I have progress. Thanks!

Edit: Got it working, had to fit in some pointers because we are required to use it :P Thanks!!