Question

Give a type definition for a structure called Score that has two member variables called home_team and opponent. Both member variables are of type int. Declare an array called game that is an array with ten elements of type Score. The array game might be used to record the scores of each of ten games for a sports team.

Short answer

Question: Create a structure called "Score" with two int variables and declare an array with ten elements of this structure. Answer: A structure "Score" can be defined with two int variables, home_team and opponent, as shown below: ```cpp struct Score { int home_team; int opponent; }; ``` Then, an array with ten elements of this structure can be declared as follows: ```cpp Score game[10]; ```

Step-by-step solution

Define the Score structure

First, we need to define a structure called "Score" with two int variables, home_team and opponent. We can do this by writing: ```cpp struct Score { int home_team; int opponent; }; ```

Declare the array with ten elements of the Score structure

Once we have defined the "Score" structure, we can declare an array called "game" with ten elements of type "Score". This is done by writing: ```cpp Score game[10]; ``` Now the "game" array is ready to store the scores of each of the ten games for a sports team. Here's the complete solution: ```cpp struct Score { int home_team; int opponent; }; Score game[10]; ```

Key concepts

Array Declaration

In C++, an array is a collection of elements that are stored in contiguous memory locations. All elements in an array are of the same data type, allowing for efficient storage and access. Declaring an array is straightforward, and it involves specifying the type of elements it will hold and defining its size. For example, when declaring an array of type `Score` with ten elements, we use the syntax: `Score game[10];`.
This declaration tells the compiler to allocate enough space to store ten `Score` structures, where each structure contains two integer variables, `home_team` and `opponent`.

• Type Specification: You specify the element type related to the array; in this case, it's the `Score` structure.
• Array Size: The number inside the brackets, `[10]`, determines the number of elements the array can hold.

The declared array `game` effectively reserves space for the results of ten games. Each element can be individually accessed to store or retrieve the scores of the home team and opponent for each particular game.

Data Types

In programming, data types define the kind of data a variable can hold. They determine how much space the variable will occupy in memory and the operations that can be performed on it. In C++, the fundamental data types include integers, floating-point numbers, characters, and more.
The `Score` structure, as defined in the problem, uses the `int` data type for its member variables. The `int` data type in C++ can store whole numbers, both positive and negative, making it suitable for representing scores in sports.
Understanding Data Types:

• int: Short for 'integer', this data type is used for storing numbers without decimal points. Examples include 1, -10, and 200.
• Structures: Combines multiple variables of different data types into a single entity, like the `Score` structure in this exercise.

Using the right data type is essential to ensure your program runs efficiently and uses memory appropriately. In the context of storing game scores, integers are the ideal choice due to their simplicity and efficiency in representing whole numbers.

Variable Definition

Defining variables is a key aspect of programming. A variable in programming acts as a container for storing data, with each variable having a specific type as already discussed. When defining variables within a `struct` in C++, we specify what kind of data the variable will store.
In the `Score` structure, two variables, `home_team` and `opponent`, are defined. Both are of type `int`, allowing them to store whole numbers. This decision is logical given that we record sports scores, which are typically whole numbers.
Variable Definition in Detail:

• Scope: Within the `struct`, we define the variables with a local scope relevant to the `Score` structure.
• Access: Variables in a `struct` can be accessed via an instance of that `struct`. For example, in an array of `Score`, you can access `game[0].home_team` to manipulate the home team score for the first game.

Careful variable definition ensures that your data is stored appropriately for the tasks at hand and supports clear code that is easy to understand and maintain. In this way, by defining `home_team` and `opponent` as integers within the `Score` structure, we set clear expectations for what data each part of the structure should handle.