Programming Basics: Call a Function

Separate a function definition from a call and trace its returned value.

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Our pseudocode defines FUNCTION addTwo(x): RETURN x + 2; END. A call supplies an input and receives the returned result. Defining a function does not call it. RETURN passes a value back; SHOW displays a value.

Worked example

SET answer TO addTwo(4) stores 6 in answer. The parameter x receives 4 for that call. Nothing is displayed until a SHOW instruction runs.

The function addTwo accepts x and returns x plus two. Calling addTwo with four returns six. A separate SHOW instruction is needed to display the result.

Would you believe it?

Returning a value is not the same as displaying it. A function can calculate a useful result that its caller stores or uses without showing anything on a screen.

Python documentation: functions

Question 1 What does addTwo(4) return? 4 2 6

Question 2 What does addTwo(0) return? Nothing 2 0

Question 3 Does defining addTwo automatically call it? No Yes, once Yes, twice

Question 4 After SET answer TO addTwo(4), what is stored in answer? The word x 4 6

Question 5 Which instruction displays the stored result? Rename the function SHOW answer RETURN in the definition alone

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