For loop in C++ - Mini Project: Build & Apply

For Loop Practice in C++

📖 Scenario: You are helping a small store owner who wants to calculate the total price of items sold. Each item has a price, and the owner wants to add them up using a simple loop.

🎯 Goal: Build a C++ program that uses a for loop to sum the prices of items in an array and print the total.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create an array called prices with the exact values: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50

Create an integer variable called total and set it to 0

Use a for loop with the variable i to iterate over the prices array

Add each price to total inside the loop

Print the value of total after the loop

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Summing prices is a common task in stores, shopping carts, and billing systems.

💼 Career

Understanding loops and arrays is essential for many programming jobs, especially those involving data processing.

1

Create the prices array

Create an integer array called prices with these exact values: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50.

C++

#include 

int main() {
    // Create the prices array here

    return 0;
}

Hint

Use the syntax int prices[] = {values}; to create the array.

2

Create the total variable

Create an integer variable called total and set it to 0.

C++

#include 

int main() {
    int prices[] = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50};
    // Create the total variable here

    return 0;
}

Hint

Use int total = 0; to create the variable.

3

Use a for loop to sum prices

Use a for loop with the variable i to iterate over the prices array and add each price to total inside the loop.

C++

#include 

int main() {
    int prices[] = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50};
    int total = 0;
    // Add a for loop here to sum prices

    return 0;
}

Hint

Use for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) and inside the loop add prices[i] to total.

4

Print the total

Write a std::cout statement to print the value of total.

C++

#include 

int main() {
    int prices[] = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50};
    int total = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
        total += prices[i];
    }
    // Print the total here

    return 0;
}

Hint

Use std::cout << total << std::endl; to print the total sum.

Practice

1.

What does a for loop in C++ do?

easy

A. Defines a new function

B. Runs code only once

C. Stops the program immediately

D. Repeats a block of code a fixed number of times

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of a for loop

   A for loop is designed to repeat code multiple times based on a condition.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct description

   Among the options, only repeating code a fixed number of times matches the for loop's behavior.

3. Final Answer:

   Repeats a block of code a fixed number of times -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   For loop = repeat fixed times [OK]

Hint: For loops repeat code a set number of times [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking for loops run only once
• Confusing for loops with if statements
• Believing for loops stop the program

2.

Which of the following is the correct syntax for a for loop in C++?

for (___; i < 5; i++) {
    // code
}

easy

A. int i = 0

B. i = 0

C. int i

D. int i == 0

Solution

1. Step 1: Check initialization syntax in for loop

   The initialization part must declare and initialize the loop variable, e.g., int i = 0.

2. Step 2: Compare options for correctness

   Only int i = 0 correctly declares and initializes the variable.

3. Final Answer:

   int i = 0 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Initialization needs declaration and assignment [OK]

Hint: Initialization needs declaration and assignment [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'int i' without initialization
• Using 'int i == 0' which is a comparison
• Omitting the type declaration

3.

What is the output of this code?

for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
    std::cout << i * 2 << " ";
}

medium

A. 1 2 3

B. 2 4 6

C. 0 2 4

D. 2 3 4

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify loop iterations

   The loop runs with i = 1, 2, 3 because condition is i <= 3.

2. Step 2: Calculate output for each iteration

   Outputs are i*2: 2, 4, 6 printed with spaces.

3. Final Answer:

   2 4 6 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Multiply i by 2 each loop [OK]

Hint: Multiply loop variable by 2 each iteration [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing loop range (off by one)
• Printing i instead of i*2
• Missing spaces in output

4.

Find the error in this for loop:

for (int i = 0; i > 5; i++) {
    std::cout << i << " ";
}

medium

A. Variable i is not declared

B. Missing semicolon after i++

C. The condition 'i > 5' is incorrect, loop never runs

D. The loop will run infinitely

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the loop condition

   The condition is i > 5 but i starts at 0, so it is false immediately.

2. Step 2: Understand loop execution

   Since condition is false at start, loop body never executes.

3. Final Answer:

   The condition 'i > 5' is incorrect, loop never runs -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Condition false at start means no loop runs [OK]

Hint: Check if loop condition is true initially [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming loop runs despite false condition
• Thinking missing semicolon causes error here
• Confusing variable declaration errors

5.

How can you use a for loop to print all even numbers from 2 to 10 inclusive?

Choose the correct code snippet:

hard

A. for (int i = 2; i <= 10; i += 2) { std::cout << i << ' '; }

B. for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++) { if (i % 2 == 0) std::cout << i << ' '; }

C. for (int i = 2; i < 10; i++) { std::cout << i * 2 << ' '; }

D. for (int i = 0; i <= 10; i += 3) { std::cout << i << ' '; }

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the goal

   We want to print even numbers 2,4,6,8,10 inclusive.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   for (int i = 2; i <= 10; i += 2) { std::cout << i << ' '; } increments by 2 starting at 2, printing 2,4,6,8,10 correctly.
   for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++) { if (i % 2 == 0) std::cout << i << ' '; } prints 2,4,6,8 but misses 10.
   for (int i = 2; i < 10; i++) { std::cout << i * 2 << ' '; } prints 4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18 (wrong range).
   for (int i = 0; i <= 10; i += 3) { std::cout << i << ' '; } increments by 3, not even numbers.

3. Final Answer:

   for (int i = 2; i <= 10; i += 2) { std::cout << i << ' '; } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Increment by 2 from 2 to 10 [OK]

Hint: Increment loop variable by 2 starting at 2 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong increment step
• Forgetting to include 10
• Using condition inside loop unnecessarily