Why does this come out to be what it is? I don't understand how this is working. Help please.

Question

https://code.sololearn.com/ci7umjQ2g5A0/?ref=app

Answer 1

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
int a;
//This declares initalises variable a as an integer

cout << "2 \n";
//This will print the 'string' 2 to the screen

cin >> a;
//This prompts the user to input any integer

cout << 0;
//This will print 0 to the screen

return 0;
//This checks normal termination of the program
}

if you add

cout << a << endl;

it should be able to print the integer value the user inputs.

⚠ It is also good practice to use 'endl' instead of '\n' for a new line in C++.

Answer 2

Write it like this to get info from the user

int a = 0;
cout << " please enter a number";
cin >> a;
cout << a;

now when you run it in the box that appears enter a number.

Answer 3

you know that box that appears that says It looks like your program needs input. You program is asking for a number. If you dont supply one the variable a is empty and can point any old where. By saying int a = 0 or int a = 42; we tell it that by default the variable a will be that value.....

Answer 4

you need return 0 but that doesnt matter here. it would though if you compiled this as an exe and ran it

but everything else seems fine. You enter a number and it shows you the number you entered. what is it you do not understand exactly? i do not understand what you do not understand

Answer 5

which larger number? where?

the only number is the ones you enter. try changing return 1 to return 0. return 0 tells the operating system that the program ran fine and there were no errors. maybe this is what you see.

Answer 6

Oooo I see what you are doing wrong now. you didnt enter a value when prompted

the 2 is from cout. this is printed by the computer.

cin prompts the user for an entry. If you dont enter a number it will be grabbing junk data. You can do nothing with this data.

You should initialise the variable a to a default value to prevent it printing garbage

you can do this by

int a = 0;

try that.

Answer 7

int a = 0;
cout << a;

Answer 8

but then you are not getting user input......

Answer 9

yea. I can see it

Answer 10

because it is a default value incase the user enters nothing. its stops it from producing the large random value you were complaining about

Answer 11

https://code.sololearn.com/c4tox3KBNsgd/?ref=app

Answer 12

Welcome!

Answer 13

Why are you interested in 0?!

Answer 14

@Tuslime... mmhmmm it started out right. User wasnt entering any data when prompted... so a was spewing junk... lol... they edited it to that... but it sorted now right @Dawn

Answer 15

@Jay,
I noticed.
Thanks though!

Answer 16

thank you but i dont understand what the larger number thats in the output represents. and what can this be used for? @jay

Answer 17

the output has 2 but then there is a larger number beneath it that i did nothing to have put there. I dont get where this numer comes from. @jay

Answer 18

Why are you interested in 0?!

Answer 19

ahhhh i understand now i wasnt inputting int as int a=0 i was simply putting int a;

Answer 20

thank you for all the help. ive always ignored that box until now.