Return values in R Programming - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Return values

📖 Scenario: Imagine you are creating a simple calculator function in R that adds two numbers and returns the result. This is like using a vending machine: you put in money (input), press a button (function), and get a snack (output). Here, the snack is the sum of two numbers.

🎯 Goal: You will build a function called add_numbers that takes two numbers as input and returns their sum. Then, you will call this function and print the result.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a function called add_numbers with two parameters: a and b

Inside the function, return the sum of a and b

Call the function with the numbers 5 and 7 and store the result in a variable called result

Print the value of result

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Functions that return values are used everywhere in programming to perform calculations, process data, and give back results. For example, a shopping app might use functions to calculate total prices.

💼 Career

Understanding how to write functions that return values is a key skill for any programming job, enabling you to write reusable and organized code.

1

Create the function add_numbers

Write a function called add_numbers that takes two parameters named a and b. For now, leave the function body empty.

R Programming

add_numbers <- function(a, b) {
  # Your code here
}

Need a hint?

Use the syntax function(parameter1, parameter2) { } to create a function in R.

2

Add the return statement

Inside the add_numbers function, write a line that returns the sum of a and b using the return() function.

R Programming

add_numbers <- function(a, b) {
  # Your code here
}

Need a hint?

Use return(a + b) to send back the sum from the function.

3

Call the function and store the result

Call the function add_numbers with the numbers 5 and 7. Store the returned value in a variable called result.

R Programming

add_numbers <- function(a, b) {
  return(a + b)
}

# Your code here

Need a hint?

Use result <- add_numbers(5, 7) to call the function and save the output.

4

Print the result

Write a line to print the value of the variable result.

R Programming

add_numbers <- function(a, b) {
  return(a + b)
}

result <- add_numbers(5, 7)

# Your code here

Need a hint?

Use print(result) to display the sum.