C Project - Complete Calculator Application using C Programming

• Setup Environment
  • Set Up Your Development Environment
  • Create a New C File
• Step by step code instruction
  • Include Necessary Header Files
  • Define Function Prototypes
  • Implement Basic Arithmetic Functions
  • Implement Additional Functions
  • Write the Main Function
• Compile and Run
  • Complete Source code
• Test and Refine
  • Output
  • Tags:

Great, Finally in our previous tutorial, we’ve already built a small Student management application using C programming.

Today, we’ll show a step-by-step guide on how to write a simple calculator application in the C programming language:

¶Setup Environment

¶Set Up Your Development Environment

Ensure you have a C compiler installed on your system. Popular choices include GCC for Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS) and MinGW for Windows. You can use an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like Code::Blocks, Visual Studio, or simply use a text editor and the command line.

¶Create a New C File

Open your preferred text editor or IDE and create a new C file. Save it with a meaningful name, like calculator.c.

¶Step by step code instruction

¶Include Necessary Header Files

In your C file, include the necessary header files for input/output and math functions:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <math.h>

In here, stdio.h is for standard input output and math.h is for math functions.

¶Define Function Prototypes

Declare the prototypes for the functions you will use later in the program. These will include functions for basic arithmetic operations and any additional operations you want to support:

float add(float num1, float num2);
float subtract(float num1, float num2);
float multiply(float num1, float num2);
float divide(float num1, float num2);
float modulus(float num1, float num2);
float power(float num, float exponent);

¶Implement Basic Arithmetic Functions

Define functions for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. These functions will perform the respective operations:

float add(float num1, float num2) {
    return num1 + num2;
}

float subtract(float num1, float num2) {
    return num1 - num2;
}

float multiply(float num1, float num2) {
    return num1 * num2;
}

float divide(float num1, float num2) {
    if (num2 != 0) {
        return num1 / num2;
    } else {
        printf("Error: Division by zero\n");
        return 0;
    }
}

¶Implement Additional Functions

If you want to support modulus and power operations, implement those functions as well:

float modulus(float num1, float num2) {
    if (num2 != 0) {
        return fmod(num1, num2);
    } else {
        printf("Error: Modulus by zero\n");
        return 0;
    }
}

float power(float num, float exponent) {
    return pow(num, exponent);
}

¶Write the Main Function

In the main function, prompt the user for input, read the numbers and operator, and perform the calculation:

int main() {
    char operator;
    float num1, num2, result;

    printf("Enter first number: ");
    scanf("%f", &num1);

    printf("Enter operator (+, -, *, /, %, ^): ");
    scanf(" %c", &operator);

    printf("Enter second number: ");
    scanf("%f", &num2);

    switch (operator) {
        case '+':
            result = add(num1, num2);
            break;
        case '-':
            result = subtract(num1, num2);
            break;
        case '*':
            result = multiply(num1, num2);
            break;
        case '/':
            result = divide(num1, num2);
            break;
        case '%':
            result = modulus(num1, num2);
            break;
        case '^':
            result = power(num1, num2);
            break;
        default:
            printf("Invalid operator\n");
            return 1;
    }

    printf("Result: %f\n", result);

    return 0;
}

¶Compile and Run

Save your file and compile it using your C compiler. Execute the resulting executable to test your calculator.

¶Complete Source code

#include <stdio.h>
#include <math.h>

// Function prototypes
float add(float num1, float num2);
float subtract(float num1, float num2);
float multiply(float num1, float num2);
float divide(float num1, float num2);
float modulus(float num1, float num2);
float power(float num, float exponent);

int main() {
    char operator;
    float num1, num2, result;

    // Input
    printf("Enter first number: ");
    scanf("%f", &num1);

    printf("Enter operator (+, -, *, /, %, ^): ");
    scanf(" %c", &operator);

    printf("Enter second number: ");
    scanf("%f", &num2);

    // Perform calculation based on operator
    switch (operator) {
        case '+':
            result = add(num1, num2);
            break;
        case '-':
            result = subtract(num1, num2);
            break;
        case '*':
            result = multiply(num1, num2);
            break;
        case '/':
            result = divide(num1, num2);
            break;
        case '%':
            result = modulus(num1, num2);
            break;
        case '^':
            result = power(num1, num2);
            break;
        default:
            printf("Invalid operator\n");
            return 1; // Exit with an error code
    }

    // Output the result
    printf("Result: %f\n", result);

    return 0; // Exit successfully
}

// Function to add two numbers
float add(float num1, float num2) {
    return num1 + num2;
}

// Function to subtract two numbers
float subtract(float num1, float num2) {
    return num1 - num2;
}

// Function to multiply two numbers
float multiply(float num1, float num2) {
    return num1 * num2;
}

// Function to divide two numbers
float divide(float num1, float num2) {
    if (num2 != 0) {
        return num1 / num2;
    } else {
        printf("Error: Division by zero\n");
        return 0; // Return a default value in case of division by zero
    }
}

// Function to calculate modulus
float modulus(float num1, float num2) {
    if (num2 != 0) {
        return fmod(num1, num2);
    } else {
        printf("Error: Modulus by zero\n");
        return 0; // Return a default value in case of modulus by zero
    }
}

// Function to calculate power
float power(float num, float exponent) {
    return pow(num, exponent);
}

¶Test and Refine

Test your calculator with various inputs to ensure it works as expected. Consider adding error checking and improving the user interface based on your requirements.

¶Output

Certainly! Here are sample outputs for various operators in the calculator application:

Addition Testing

Enter first number: 15
Enter operator (+, -, *, /, %, ^): +
Enter second number: 7
Result: 22.000000

Subtraction Testing

Enter first number: 20
Enter operator (+, -, *, /, %, ^): -
Enter second number: 8
Result: 12.000000

Multiplication Testing

Enter first number: 9
Enter operator (+, -, *, /, %, ^): *
Enter second number: 6
Result: 54.000000

Division Testing

Enter first number: 36
Enter operator (+, -, *, /, %, ^): /
Enter second number: 4
Result: 9.000000

Modulus Testing

Enter first number: 25
Enter operator (+, -, *, /, %, ^): %
Enter second number: 7
Result: 4.000000

Exponentiation Testing

Enter first number: 2
Enter operator (+, -, *, /, %, ^): ^
Enter second number: 3
Result: 8.000000

Congratulations! You’ve now created a simple calculator application in C. This basic calculator can be expanded and enhanced based on your needs and preferences.

¶Tags:

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