3. Parameters and Arguments

3.1 Terminology

• Parameters (Formal Parameters): Variables in the function definition
• Arguments (Actual Parameters): Values passed when calling the function

// 'a' and 'b' are parameters
int add(int a, int b) {
    return a + b;
}

int main() {
    int x = 5, y = 3;
    // 'x' and 'y' are arguments
    int result = add(x, y);
    return 0;
}

3.2 Parameter Passing in C

C uses pass by value as its primary parameter passing mechanism. This means:

• A copy of the argument's value is made
• Changes to parameters inside the function don't affect the original variables
• The original variables remain unchanged

Example:

#include <stdio.h>

void modify_value(int num) {
    num = 100;  // This only changes the local copy
    printf("Inside function: %d\n", num);  // Output: 100
}

int main() {
    int original = 50;
    printf("Before function call: %d\n", original);  // Output: 50
    
    modify_value(original);
    
    printf("After function call: %d\n", original);   // Output: 50 (unchanged!)
    return 0;
}

3.3 Python vs C Parameter Passing

Python:

def modify_list(lst):
    lst.append(4)  # Modifies the original list
    
my_list = [1, 2, 3]
modify_list(my_list)
print(my_list)  # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4]

C (Basic Types):

void modify_number(int num) {
    num = 100;  // Only modifies the copy
}

int main() {
    int number = 50;
    modify_number(number);
    // number is still 50
    return 0;
}

3.4 Multiple Parameters

Functions can have multiple parameters of different types:

#include <stdio.h>

// Function to calculate compound interest
float calculate_compound_interest(float principal, float rate, int time, int n) {
    float amount = principal;
    float rate_per_period = rate / (100.0 * n);
    int total_periods = n * time;
    
    for (int i = 0; i < total_periods; i++) {
        amount *= (1 + rate_per_period);
    }
    
    return amount - principal;  // Return only the interest
}

int main() {
    float principal = 1000.0;
    float annual_rate = 5.0;    // 5% per year
    int years = 2;
    int compounding_freq = 4;   // Quarterly
    
    float interest = calculate_compound_interest(principal, annual_rate, years, compounding_freq);
    
    printf("Principal: $%.2f\n", principal);
    printf("Interest earned: $%.2f\n", interest);
    printf("Total amount: $%.2f\n", principal + interest);
    
    return 0;
}