ENGG 335 Fall 1998 Midterm Review

Contents

• Test Topics
• Test Format
• Reference Material
• Library functions
• Use of scl types
• Suggestions for preparation

The test will focus mainly on topics that were heavily emphasized in lectures and labs. We are not going to make a lot of marks depend on topics that were given very little coverage in lectures and labs.

The test will cover all material up to and including Lab 5 and the lecture of Friday, Oct. 16, with the following exceptions:

• You will not have to worry about field width, precision, etc., when doing output of numbers.
• You will not have to explain the use of #ifndef, #define, and #endif in header files.
• You will not have to answers questions about using Linux or Emacs.
• Use of scl types will be very limited--see Use of scl types below for details.

[back to top of document]

• the test is closed-book--you are not allowed to take any books or notes to your seat;
• you are not allowed to use a calculator or computer during the test.

The test will consist of many short questions. Questions will be of the following types:

• You will have to write function definitions or other short segments of C++ to do specific tasks.
• You will have to draw diagrams and/or predict program output to show that you know how a given program works.
• You may have to write very short paragraphs (roughly two or three paragraphs) to show that you understand key terms and concepts from the course.

You will write all of your answers on the question paper, in spaces provided for answers.

[back to top of document]

• A solution to Lab 3 Exercise C.
• All code from Lab 4 Exercise A.
• All code from Lab 5 Exercise E.

[back to top of document]

You are also expected to know how to use the expressions cin.fail() and cin.eof().

If you are asked to use any other library functions, such as functions from <ctype.h> or <math.h>, you will be given documentation for the functions you need.

[back to top of document]

You might have to write code to work with sclArray objects. You must know how to access elements with square brackets, and you must know how to use the size and resize member functions. Don't worry about all the other member functions associated with sclArray types--you won't have to use them.

[back to top of document]

• Review lecture notes and course handouts carefully. The handouts related to memory organization are especially important. Many of the `Read This First' sections in lab handouts contain useful information.
• Re-do lab exercises using pencil and paper, especially those exercises that you found difficult when you first did them. Practice writing complete function definitions with pencil and paper--writing code by hand is a bit different from typing code in a text editor, and it's obviously an important skill to develop for tests and exams.
• Use the textbook to get background information when you find a particular topic difficult. Do not attempt to memorize all the textbook sections listed in your lecture notes as related reading--that is a very ineffective way to use your time.
• Review last year's test, which is available in the midterm booklet sold by the Engineering Students' Society. The format will be very similar this year; topics will change slightly to reflect changes in the order of topic coverage this year. (For example, pointer arithmetic was not tested last year but probaly will be this year.)

[back to top of document]