// Zig Herzog
// Aug. 11, 2010
// introToVariables.cpp 

#include <iostream>    // instruction to the compiler to include
                       // the content of a header file which provides
                       // information to your program about the details
                       // of performing input (keyboard) and output (monitor)

using namespace std ;  // to clarify to the compiler as to how to interpret
                       // certain names	

int main ( ) 
{

	double area, length, height ;     // declaring three variables =
                                          // three locations in memory.
                                          // Each will hold a sequence of
                                          // 0's and 1's representing numbers
                                          // of data types "double"
                                          
// User information and input from user

	cout << "Calculating the area of a triangle." << endl ;

	cout << "Give length of base line : " ;    // text to monitor
	cin >> length ;                            // input from keyboard
	
	cout << "Give height of triangle : " ;     // text to monitor
	cin >> height ;                            // input from keyboard

// Perform calculations

	area = 0.5*length*height ;

// Provide results to user

	cout << "A triangle with baseline = " << length << " and height = "
			<< height << " has an area of " << area << endl ;	

}

// The segment of code starting with "int main ...." constitutes
// the definition of a function here of the name "main". 
// Each program consists of one or several such function definitions 
// and MUST always contain one called "main", the names of other 
// functions (if needed) are arbitrary, meaning they are selected by
// you, the programmer. A program always starts executing with the 
// main function. Each function consists of several mandatory pieces :
// a) data type ( "double" here )  ;  
// b) name ( "main" here ) ; 
// c) the parenthesis () which optionally contain additional information (none here)
// d) the opening curly brackets {
// e) the closing curly brackets }
// The lines inbetween the {} contain the instructions
// as to what the computer is supposed to do and are acted upon in the
// order given. These lines contain a sequence of "statements" each
// one concluded by a semicolon (;). By convention : A new statement 
// always starts on a new line. 
// Indentation of lines is optional, but HIGHLY recommended to improve 
// readability of the code which becomes EXTREMELY important when you
// have to find errors in your code. Empty (blank) lines also improve
// readability.
//
// C++ (and most other languages) is CASE-SENSITIVE   !!!!!!!
//         ( try Main instead of main )
//