Experiment 3: Variable Parameters and Identical Argument Names


The Question: If a value parameter has the same name as its corresponding argument, will altering it alter the corresponding argument?

Hypothesis: Review the value parameter definition, and then construct a hypothesis.



The Experiment: Modify the definition of Change(), so that its parameter-names match the argument names:

void Change(int arg1, int arg2, int arg3)
{
    arg1 = 1;
    arg2 = 2;
    arg3 = 3;
}
(Hint: To make it easier to undo this modification, use copy-and-paste to make a copy of the function with the original names; surround one of the copies with a block comment, and modify the uncommented function.) This function is called in the main program with the statement:
   Change(arg1, arg2, arg3);
so that if giving parameters the same names as their arguments is a problem, compiling params.cpp will produce errors.

Observation: Translate your source program. What is displayed ?





Conclusions: Review the definition of a value parameter, and record your conclusions.





Undo your modifications and then continue.


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Copyright 1998 by Joel C. Adams. All rights reserved.