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In this lesson, you will learn how to use the built-in math functions in Visual Basic 2012. There are numerous built-in math functions in Visual Basic 2012. Let’s examine them one by one.
14.1 The Abs function
The Abs function returns the absolute value of a given number.
The syntax is
Math. Abs (number)
* The Math keyword indicates that the Abs function belong to the Math class.
14.2 The Exp function
The Exp of a number x is the exponential value of x, i.e. ex . For example, Exp(1)=e=2.71828182
The syntax is
Math.Exp (number)
Example 14.1
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click Dim num1, num2 As Single num1 = TextBox1.Text num2 = Math.Exp(num1) Label1.Text = num2 End Sub
14.3 The Fix Function
The Fix function truncates the decimal part of a positive number and returns the largest integer smaller than the number. However, when the number is negative, it will return smallest integer larger than the number. For example, Fix(9.2)=9 but Fix(-9.4)=-9
Example 14.2
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click Dim num1, num2 As Single num1 = TextBox1.Text num2 = Fix(num1) Label1.Text = num2 End Sub
14.4 The Int Function
The Int is a function that converts a number into an integer by truncating its decimal part and the resulting integer is the largest integer that is smaller than he number. For example
Int(2.4)=2, Int(6.9)=6 , Int(-5.7)=-6, Int(-99.8)=-100
14.5 The Log Function
The Log function is the function that returns the natural logarithm of a number. For example, Log(10)=2.302585
Example 14.3
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click Dim num1, num2 As Single num1 = TextBox1.Text num2 = Math.Log(num1) Label1.Text = num2 End Sub
* The logarithm of num1 will be displayed on label1
14.6 The Rnd( ) Function
Rnd is a very useful function in Visual Basic 2012 . We use the Rnd function to write code that involves chance and probability. The Rnd function returns a random value between 0 and 1. Random numbers in their original form are not very useful in programming until we convert them to integers. For example, if we need to obtain a random output of 6 integers ranging from 1 to 6, which makes the program behave like a virtual dice, we need to convert the random numbers to integers using the formula Int(Rnd*6)+1.
Example 14.4
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click Dim num as integer Num=Int(Rnd()*6)+1 Label1.Text=Num End Sub
In this example, Int(Rnd*6) will generate a random integer between 0 and 5 because the function Int truncates the decimal part of the random number and returns an integer. After adding 1, you will get a random number between 1 and 6 every time you click the command button. For example, let say the random number generated is 0.98, after multiplying it by 6, it becomes 5.88, and using the integer function Int(5.88) will convert the number to 5; and after adding 1 you will get 6.
14.7 The Round Function
The Round function is a Visual Basic 2012 function that rounds up a number to a certain number of decimal places. The Format is Round (n, m) which means to round a number n to m decimal places. For example, Math.Round (7.2567, 2) =7.26
Example 14.5
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click Dim num1, num2 As Single num1 = TextBox1.Text num2 = Math.Round(num1, 2) Label1.Text = num2 End Sub
* The Math keyword here indicates that the Round function belong to the Math class.
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