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how to fix the error: ‘int complex_number::n’ is private within this context, in my code? What is wrong?

+5 votes
asked Aug 5, 2021 by npatel300 (1,440 points)
#ifndef COMPLEX_H
#define COMPLEX_H
#include <iostream>
using std::ostream;

struct complex_number{

    complex_number(int n): n(n){}

    complex_number operator+(const complex_number &)const;
    complex_number operator-(const complex_number &)const;
    complex_number operator*(const complex_number &)const;
    complex_number operator/(const complex_number &)const;
    
    complex_number operator+(int) const;
    complex_number operator-(int) const;
    complex_number operator*(int) const;
    complex_number operator/(int) const;
    
    complex_number operator+(double) const;
    complex_number operator-(double) const;
    complex_number operator*(double) const;
    complex_number operator/(double) const;

    friend complex_number operator+(int, const complex_number &);
    friend complex_number operator-(int, const complex_number &);
    friend complex_number operator*(int, const complex_number &);
    friend complex_number operator/(int, const complex_number &);
    
    friend complex_number operator+(double, const complex_number &);
    friend complex_number operator-(double, const complex_number &);
    friend complex_number operator*(double, const complex_number &);
    friend complex_number operator/(double, const complex_number &);

    friend ostream &operator<<(ostream &, const complex_number &);
    
private:
    int n;
};

#endif /* COMPLEX_H */

/* complex.cc */
#include <iostream>

struct complex_number operator+(int n, complex_number &o) {

    return complex_number(o + n);
}

complex_number operator-(int n, complex_number &o) {

    return complex_number(n) - o;
}

complex_number operator*(int n, complex_number &o) {

    return complex_number (o * n);
}

complex_number operator/(int n, complex_number &o) {

    return complex_number(n) / o;
}

ostream &operator<<(ostream &out, complex_number &o) {

    return out<<o.n;
}

/* main.cc */

#include <iostream>

using std::cout;
using std::endl;

int main(void)
{
    int a = 4;
    int b = 3;
    int c = 2;
    int d = 1;
    
    double n = 5.0;
    cout << a + b << " + " << c + d << " = " << complex_number << endl;
    cout << a + b << " - " << c + d << " = " << complex_number << endl;
    cout << a + b << " * " << c + d << " = " << complex_number << endl;
    cout << a + b << " / " << c + d << " = " << complex_number << endl;

    cout << a + b << " + " << 5.0 << " = " << complex_number << endl;
    cout << a + b << " - " << 5.0 << " = " << complex_number << endl;
    cout << a + b << " * " << 5.0 << " = " << complex_number << endl;
    cout << a + b << " / " << 5.0 << " = " << complex_number << endl;

    cout << 5.0 << " + " << a + b << " = " << complex_number << endl;     
    cout << 5.0 << " - " << a + b << " = " << complex_number << endl;
    cout << 5.0 << " * " << a + b << " = " << complex_number << endl;
    cout << 5.0 << " / " << a + b << " = " << complex_number << endl;

    return 0;
}

1 Answer

0 votes
answered Aug 5, 2021 by Peter Minarik (84,720 points)

Look at all the warnings. They show the line numbers.

For your specific question:

main.cpp:68:19: error: ‘int complex_number::n’ is private within this context
     return out<<o.n;
                   ^
main.cpp:38:9: note: declared private here
     int n;
         ^

So you're trying to access the field n of structure o (on line 68) However, (on line 38) n is declared to be private. Hence you have the error: you're trying to access a field (variable of an object/struct) that you have no permission to.

You tried to crate a friend function declaration:

friend ostream &operator<<(ostream &, const complex_number &);

, however during the implementation you missed the const from the second parameter, and now the signature of the two functions do not match, and your function is not a friend of the complex_number structure.

To fix it, use the correct signature:

ostream &operator<<(ostream &out, const complex_number &o) {
    return out<<o.n;
}

After this, your code compiles, but does not link as none of the complex_number operators have been defined (only the friend functions, but not the ones that are part of the structure).

Some extra notes:

  • You should keep your files separated. Do not copy everything into one giant file. Use multiple header and source files as the code structure demands.
  • A complex number has two component: a real part and an imaginary part. Your complex_number only has one of them (so it's not a complex number in mathematical sense). Reference:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_number
commented Aug 6, 2021 by npatel300 (1,440 points)
I know complex numbers has real and imaginary part. But, I don't know if I fixed it right, but I think the output produces wrong calculation for complex numbers. why is that so? please help me. Thank you.
https://onlinegdb.com/iXRjD1DZy
commented Aug 6, 2021 by Peter Minarik (84,720 points)
Which calculation do you think is wrong? I don't see problem with the results of the calculations.
commented Aug 6, 2021 by npatel300 (1,440 points)
The complex number (4 + 4i) + (2 + 1i) should be 6 + 5i, and the result from my output shows 11 as the answer. Am I doing wrong implementation for complex numbers?
commented Aug 7, 2021 by Peter Minarik (84,720 points)
I don't see that line of code. However, I think your problem is that you think (4 + 4) means the complex number 4, 4j to the C/C++ compiler. It does not. It means the integral number 4 + 4 = 8.

This is how you use std::complex: https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/numeric/complex
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