[RESOLVED] Displaying only part of an Array

[BioPhysEngr]

To print out the last 20 elements of some array do something like (this example assumes the array has at least 20 elements):

void printArray(int[] data)
{
    for(int i = data.Length - 20; i < data.Length; i++)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(data[i]);
    }
}

Do you see why this works and how to adapt this to print both sets?

Part B will be easier if instead of cramming everything into the Main method you create separate methods like:

//Returns a sorted array (and the number of iterations as an output parameter)
int[] bubbleSort(int[] data, out int iterations) { ... }

//Returns a sorted array (and the number of iterations as an output parameter)
int[] InsertionSort(int[] data, out int iterations) { ... }

//Prints the first and last 20
void printFirstAndLast(int[] data) { ... }

//Creates a random array
int[] generateRandomArray() { ... }

Then in your main method, you can just do (pseudocode):

For 10 iterations:
    Generate random array
    Sort it
    Add the iterations count to average 
Divide by 10 to get the average
Display to user

Writing short methods that are easy to understand makes it easy to debug your code. Try to make every method do one "verb" ("sort", "generate something", "calculate something", etc) and do it well.

Also, I suggested you use out parameters. They're easy to use, but I should tell you how they work. Basically, using them tells the subroutine: "hey, you need to assign this variable before you're finished so the calling method can get it". Example:

//Some function with an out parameter
int doSomething(int someInputParameter, out int anOutParameter)
{
    //Does some stuff
    anOutParameter = 5;  //When the method returns, anOutParameter will return 5

    return 10;  //The function returns 10
}

//Example of how tocall
void main()
{
    int otherResult; //Declare a variable to hold the result of the out parameter
    int result = doSomething(50000, out otherResult);

    //Now result has value 10 and otherResult has value 5;
}

Does that make sense?

If not, read the MSDN article on the out keyword: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...=vs.80%29.aspx

Please also use [code] and [/code] tags in the future to keep your code formatted.

I hope that helps. Good luck (and have fun)!