Flip coin using function C++

Question

I am trying to create a program which would use a function to flip a coin, and using the Main() method, return the results of it landing on heads, tails, and its edge in a 2D array. There is a 40% chance of it landing on heads, 40% chance of it landing on tails, and a 20% chance of it landing on its edge.

I kind of have the function, but it does not change the number in the Main() method. What am I doing wrong? Any help would be appreciated.

#include <iostream>
#include <ctime>

using namespace std;

void coinToss();

int heads = 0, tails = 0, edge = 0;


int main(){
const int NUMROWS = 3;
const int NUMCOLS = 2;

srand(time(NULL));

coinToss();


cout << "Heads: " + heads << endl;   //just to check if function works properly

system("pause");
}

void coinToss(){
int flip = 0;
for (int i = 0; i<100; i++){
    flip = rand() % 10 + 1;
    if (flip < 4){
        heads++;
    } 
    else if (flip < 8){
        tails++;
    }
    else {
        edge++;
    }
}
}

@John3136 I'm not sure if I'm using it right, but it's not giving me any errors... — , Dec 08 '15 at 00:42
Try changing `cout << "Heads: " + heads << endl;` to `cout << "Heads: " << heads << endl;` — Bryn McKerracher, Dec 08 '15 at 00:49
@Laserbreath suddenly I feel extremely stupid. Thank you for pointing the typo out. — , Dec 08 '15 at 00:52
@Frog6666 No problem, it's often the smallest things which end up being the most frustrating problems :) — Bryn McKerracher, Dec 08 '15 at 00:54

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:40

Your output line isn't correct:

cout << "Heads: " + heads << endl;

This is the same as

cout << ("Heads: " + heads) << endl;

which is the same as

cout << &("Heads: "[heads]) << endl;

which probably ends up with some kind of garbage due to heads being larger than seven. Instead, you have to use <<:

cout << "Heads: " << heads << endl;

Remarks

Don't use using namespace std.
If possible, use the C++11 <random> library instead of <cstdlib>'s rand.
Try to avoid global variables.
Head over to CR.SE to get further feedback as soon as you have a working program.

Flip coin using function C++

1 Answers1

Remarks