C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide (3rd Edition)

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price = 8.50 * .65; // Gets price after 35% discount

You can even use other variables in the expression:

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totalAmount = price * quantity; /* Uses value from another variable

*/

Tip

The equals sign tells C this: Take whatever is on the right and stick it into the variable

on the left. The equals sign kind of acts like a left-pointing arrow that says “That-a-

way!” Oh, and never use commas in numbers, no matter how big the numbers are!

Let’s use all this variable knowledge you’ve gained in a program. Open your editor, type the
following program, compile it, and run it:

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// Example program #1 from Chapter 5 of Absolute Beginner's Guide

// to C, 3rd Edition

// File Chapter5ex1.c

/* This is a sample program that lists three kids and their school

supply needs, as well as cost to buy the supplies */

#include <stdio.h>

main()

{

// Set up the variables, as well as define a few

char firstInitial, middleInitial;

int number_of_pencils;

int number_of_notebooks;

float pencils = 0.23;

float notebooks = 2.89;

float lunchbox = 4.99;

//The information for the first child

firstInitial = 'J';

middleInitial = 'R';

number_of_pencils = 7;

number_of_notebooks = 4;

printf("%c%c needs %d pencils, %d notebooks, and 1 lunchbox\n",

firstInitial, middleInitial,number_of_pencils,

number_of_notebooks);

printf("The total cost is $%.2f\n\n", number_of_pencils*pencils