Question

Write the definition of a function that takes as input a char value and returns true if the character is uppercase; otherwise, it returns false.

Short answer

Define a function that checks if the ASCII value of a character is between 65 and 90.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Problem

We need to create a function that takes a single character as input and checks if it is an uppercase letter. If it is, the function should return true; otherwise, it should return false.

Outline the Solution

We'll implement a function that evaluates whether the ASCII value of the character falls within the range of uppercase letters (from 'A' to 'Z'). If it does, the function returns true.

Write the Function Signature

The function signature for this problem in many programming languages (for example, C++) would look like: ```cpp bool isUppercaseChar(char ch) ```

Determine the ASCII Value Range

The ASCII values for uppercase letters range from 65 ('A') to 90 ('Z'). We'll use this information to check the input character's ASCII value.

Implement the Function Logic

Within the function, check if the ASCII value of the character is between 65 and 90 using a conditional statement. If the condition is true, return true; otherwise, return false. Here's the full implementation in C++: ```cpp bool isUppercaseChar(char ch) { return ch >= 65 && ch <= 90; } ```

Test the Function

We test the function using various character inputs. For example: - `isUppercaseChar('A')` should return `true`. - `isUppercaseChar('m')` should return `false`. - `isUppercaseChar('Z')` should return `true`.

Key concepts

ASCII Values

In computing, ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Essentially, it is a character encoding standard used to represent text. Each character is associated with a unique numerical value, known as the ASCII value. This allows computers to store and manipulate characters as numerical data.
For example, the uppercase letter 'A' is represented by the ASCII value 65, while 'Z' is represented by 90. Lowercase letters and other characters have their own distinct ASCII values.

• Uppercase A-Z: 65-90
• Lowercase a-z: 97-122
• Numbers 0-9: 48-57

Understanding ASCII values is crucial in programming since it allows us to perform operations on characters by utilizing these numerical values. In our exercise, checking if a character is uppercase involves verifying if its ASCII value resides between 65 and 90.

Conditional Statements

Conditional statements play a vital role in decision-making within any programming language. They allow code execution to alter based on whether a specified condition evaluates to true or false. In C++, the common conditional statements are `if`, `else if`, and `else`. Each statement serves the purpose of directing the flow of execution.
When dealing with ASCII values, a conditional statement can check whether a character's ASCII value fits certain criteria. For instance, in our function example, we use a comparison: `return ch >= 65 && ch <= 90;`. This checks if the character lies within the range of uppercase ASCII values and returns a boolean value true or false. Such uses of conditional statements are foundational for implementing logic in programming.

Function Implementation

A function in C++ is a block of code designed to perform a specific task. Functions help in making code modular, reusable, and easier to manage. To create a function, you usually start with defining the function signature, which specifies the return type, name, and parameters.
In our exercise, the function `bool isUppercaseChar(char ch)` is designed to take a character input and return a boolean value indicating whether it is uppercase. The core logic checks the ASCII value of the character using a conditional statement.

• Return Type: `bool` indicates the function returns true or false.
• Function Name: `isUppercaseChar` describes the task the function performs.
• Parameter: `char ch` specifies the input is a character.

Once the function is implemented, it can be called with any character input to check if it is uppercase, succinctly encapsulating the logic.

C++ Programming

C++ is a powerful, high-performance programming language that supports procedural, object-oriented, and generic programming. Its alacrity for direct hardware manipulation is what makes it a popular choice for operating systems, game development, and performance-critical applications.
C++ boasts several distinct features such as strong typing, extensive libraries, and facilities for low-level memory manipulation. Understanding fundamental concepts like functions, conditional statements, and ASCII is essential in leveraging the complete functionality of C++.
In C++, operations like character evaluation using ASCII values are straightforward. This exercise, focusing on character checking, is a practical introduction to combining these elements within C++ to perform more intricate tasks effectively.