Chapter 5
User Defined Methods
Class 10 - APC Understanding Computer Applications with BlueJ
Fill in the blanks
Question 1
A function can return only one value to its caller program.
Question 2
If a function does not return any value its return type is void.
Question 3
A function indicating the function name, return type along with function
arguments is known as function header/prototype.
Question 4
The variables used to receive the values in function header are known
as formal parameters.
Question 5
Method in a Java program resides in package.
Question 6
The entire function body is enclosed under curly brackets.
Question 7
The procedural function performs some actions without returning any output.
Question 8
A function contains header and body.
Question 9
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
Functions used with same name but different types of arguments are known
as function overloading.
Question 10
A function that is called by itself in its body is known as recursive function.
Tick the correct option
Question 1
The function which changes the state of an object is known as:
1. pure function
2. impure function ✓
3. replace function
4. none of the above
Question 2
Parameters used in function call statement are known as:
1. defined parameter
2. passed parameter
3. actual parameter ✓
4. formal parameter
Question 3
Parameters used in the function definition are called:
1. forward parameter
2. actual parameter
3. formal parameter ✓
4. none of the above
Question 4
The process of calling a function in such a way that the change in the formal
arguments reflects on the actual parameter is known as:
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
1. call by reference ✓
2. call by value
3. call by method
4. none
Question 5
A function with many definitions is called:
1. multiple function
2. function overloading ✓
3. floating function
4. none
Question 6
A function may be associated with:
1. return ✓
2. call
3. promote
4. none
Question 7
Which of the following type can be used for a non-returnable function?
1. int
2. float
3. double
4. void ✓
Question 8
A function body is enclosed within a pair of:
1. { } ✓
2. [ ]
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
3. ( )
4. under a rectangular box
Question 9
A function is invoked through an:
1. object ✓
2. system
3. parameter
4. none
Write TRUE or FALSE
Question 1
Calling and invoking a function is same.
True
Question 2
A method can use a single return statement.
True
Question 3
Overloading of methods even depends on return type.
False
Question 4
A function cannot be defined without parameters.
False
Question 5
A function body is enclosed within curly brackets.
True
Answer the following
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
Question 1
Define a function. What is meant by function prototype?
A function or a method is a sequence of statements grouped together and
given a name. This group of statements can be called at any point in the
program using its name to perform a specific task.
First line of function definition that tells about the type of value returned by
the function and the number and type of arguments is called function
prototype.
Question 2
What are the two ways of invoking functions?
Two ways of invoking functions are:
1. Pass by value.
2. Pass by reference.
Question 3
When a function returns the value, the entire function call can be assigned to a
variable. Do you agree with the statement?
Yes, when a function returns a value, we can assign the entire function call to
a variable. Below example illustrates the same:
public class Example {
public int sum(int a, int b) {
int c = a + b;
return c;
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
Example obj = new Example();
int x = 2, y = 3;
int z = obj.sum(x, y);
System.out.println(z);
}
}
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
Question 4
When a function is invoked how many values can be returned from the
function?
A function can only return a single value.
Question 5
Debug the errors and rewrite the following function prototypes:
(a) int sum(x,y);
Answer
int sum(int x, int y)
(b) float product(a,int y);
Answer
float product(float a, int y)
(c) float operate(int x, float=3.4);
Answer
float operate(int x, float y)
(d) float sum(int x,y);
Answer
float sum(int x, float y)
Question 6
Write down the main function which calls the following function:
int square(int a)
{
return(a*a);
}
Answer
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
public static void main(String args[]) {
int sq = square(4);
}
Question 7
What happens when a function is passed by reference? Explain.
Pass by reference means that the arguments of the function are a reference
to the original objects and not a copy. So any changes that the called function
makes to the objects are visible to the calling function. Consider the below
example:
class PassByReferenceExample {
public void demoRef(int a[]) {
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
a[i] = i;
}
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
PassByReferenceExample obj = new PassByReferenceExample();
int arr[] = { 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 };
System.out.println("Before call to demoRef value of arr");
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
System.out.print(arr[i] + " ");
}
System.out.println();
obj.demoRef(arr);
System.out.println("After call to demoRef value of arr");
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
System.out.print(arr[i] + " ");
}
}
}
The output of this program is:
Before call to demoRef value of arr
10 20 30 40 50
After call to demoRef value of arr
01234
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
Here demoRef changes the values of array a and these changes are reflected
in the array in the main method as well.
Question 8
In what situation does a function return a value?
For a function to return a value, it should have a return type other than void
in its function prototype and it should return a value of the corresponding
type using the return statement in the function body.
Question 9
Differentiate between pure and impure functions.
Pure functions Impure functions
Pure functions take objects and/or primitive data types Impure functions change the
as arguments but does not modify the objects. state of received objects.
Impure functions have side
Pure functions doesn't have side effects.
effects.
Question 10
Write a function which is used to swap the values of two memory locations.
(a) by using a third variable.
Answer
void swap(int a, int b) {
int c = a;
a = b;
b = c;
System.out.println("a = " + a + "\t" + "b = " + b);
}
(b) without using a third variable.
Answer
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
void swap(int a, int b) {
a = a + b;
b = a - b;
a = a - b;
System.out.println("a = " + a + "\t" + "b = " + b);
}
Question 11
Call by value Call by reference
Actual parameters are copied to formal Formal parameters refer to actual
parameters. Any changes to formal parameters. The changes to formal
parameters are not reflected onto the actual parameters are reflected onto the actual
parameters. parameters.
All reference data types like arrays and
All primitive data types are passed using Call
objects of classes are passed using Call by
by value.
reference.
Differentiate between call by value and call by reference.
Question 12
What are the advantages of defining a method in a program?
Advantages of defining methods in a program are:
1. Methods help to manage the complexity of the program by dividing a
bigger complex task into smaller, easily understood tasks.
2. Methods are useful in hiding the implementation details.
3. Methods help with code reusability.
Question 13
What is meant by function overloading? In what way it is advantageous?
Function overloading is the process of defining functions/methods within a
class, that have the same name but differ in the number and/or the data
types of their arguments. Advantages of function overloading are:
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
1. Function overloading is one of the ways in which Java implements the
object oriented concept of Polymorphism.
2. With Function overloading, programmers don't have to create and
remember different names for functions doing the same thing for
different data types.
Question 14
Define the following:
(a) Return data type
Return data type specifies the type of value that the method should return. It
is mentioned before the method name in the method prototype. It can be
any valid primitive or composite data type of Java. If no value is being
returned, it should be void.
(b) Access specifier
Access specifiers determine the type of access to the method. It can be either
public, private or protected.
(c) Parameter list
Parameter list is a comma-separated list of variables of a method along with
their respective data types. The list is enclosed within a pair of parentheses.
Parameter list can be empty if the method doesn't accept any parameters
when it is called.
(d) Recursive function
A function that calls itself inside its body is called a Recursive function.
(e) Method signature
Method signature comprises of the method name and the data types of the
parameters. For example, consider the below method:
int sum(int a, int b) {
int c = a + b;
return c;
}
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
Its method signature is:
sum(int, int)
Question 15
Explain the function of a return statement in Java programming.
A function returns a value through the return statement. Once a return
statement is executed, the program control moves back to the caller function
skipping the remaining statements of the current function if any. A function
can have multiple return statements but only one of them will be executed.
For example, consider the below method:
int sum(int a, int b) {
int c = a + b;
return c;
}
It uses a return statement to return a value of int type back to its caller.
Question 16
Differentiate between formal parameter and actual parameter.
Formal parameter Actual parameter
Formal parameters appear in function Actual parameters appear in function call
definition. statement.
They represent the values received by the They represent the values passed to the
called function. called function.
Question 17
What is the role of the keyword void in declaring functions?
The keyword 'void' signifies that the function doesn't return a value to the
calling function.
Question 18
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
If a function contains several return statements, how many of them will be
executed?
A function can have multiple return statements but only one of them will be
executed because once a return statement is executed, the program control
moves back to the caller function skipping the remaining statements of the
current function.
Question 19
Which OOP principle implements function overloading?
Polymorphism implements function overloading.
Question 20
How are the following data passed to a function?
Primitive types
By value
Reference types
By reference
Give output of the following function definitions and also write what
mathematical operations they carry out
Question 1
void test1(int n)
{
for(int x=1; x<=n; x++)
if(n%x == 0)
System. out.println(x);
}
if 12 is passed to n.
Output
1
2
3
4
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
6
12
Explanation
This function finds the factors of n.
Question 2
void test2(int a, int b)
{
while( a != b)
{
if ( a > b)
a = a — b;
else
a = b — a;
}
System.out.println(a);
}
if 4 and 17 are passed to the function.
Output
Infinite Loop
Explanation
Initial value of a is 4 and b is 17 as given in the question. As a and b are not
equal, condition of while loop is true, first iteration starts. a is less than b so if
condition is false, a = b - a is executed and a becomes 17 - 4 = 13. Condition of
while loop is true so second iteration starts. Again, if condition is false. This
time a becomes 17 - 13 = 4. Like this, the value of a keeps oscillating between
13 and 4 resulting in an infinite loop.
Question 3
void test3(char c)
{
System.out.println( (int) c);
}
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
if 'm' is passed to c.
Output
109
Explanation
This function prints the ASCII code of its argument. When 'm' is passed to this
function, its ASCII code which is 109 gets printed as the output.
Question 4
void test4(String x, String y)
{
if(x.compareTo(y) > 0)
System.out.println(x);
else
System.out.println(y);
}
if "AMIT" and "AMAN" are passed to the function.
Output
AMIT
Explanation
The first differing characters of "AMIT" and "AMAN" are 'I' and 'A',
respectively. So output of "AMIT".compareTo("AMAN") will be ASCII Code of 'I'
- ASCII Code of 'A' ⇒ 73 - 65 ⇒ 8. The if condition is true so string x which is
"AMIT" gets printed as the output.
By Sir Sanjoy Banerjee(MCA,M.Sc(Maths),B.Ed
