Question
Which of the following is the correct function definition header for the getAge function which is a member of the Person class? int Person::getAge( ) int getAge( ); int Person:getAge( )
Ask by Campbell Hilton. in the United States
Jan 21,2025
Real Tutor Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
The correct function definition header is:
```cpp
int Person::getAge()
```
Solution
The correct function definition header for the `getAge` function, which is a member of the `Person` class, is:
```cpp
int Person::getAge()
```
**Explanation of Each Option:**
1. **`int Person::getAge()`**
- **Correct.** This uses the **scope resolution operator (`::`)** to specify that `getAge` is a member function of the `Person` class. This is the proper way to define a member function outside the class declaration.
2. **`int getAge()`**
- **Incorrect.** This defines a **global function** named `getAge` that is not associated with any class. It does not specify that `getAge` is a member of the `Person` class.
3. **`int Person:getAge()`**
- **Incorrect.** This uses a **single colon (`:`)** instead of the correct **double colon (`::`)** for the scope resolution operator. The single colon is not a valid syntax for defining member functions.
**Example of Correct Usage:**
Assuming the `Person` class is declared as follows:
```cpp
class Person {
public:
int getAge(); // Declaration inside the class
private:
int age;
};
```
The definition outside the class would be:
```cpp
int Person::getAge() {
return age;
}
```
This clearly indicates that `getAge` is a member function of the `Person` class and correctly accesses the `age` member variable.
Reviewed and approved by the UpStudy tutoring team
Like
error msg
Explain 
Simplify this solution Beyond the Answer
The correct function definition header for the `getAge` function as a member of the `Person` class is `int Person::getAge( )`. This syntax uses the scope resolution operator `::` to indicate that `getAge` belongs to the `Person` class. It’s like giving a shout-out to the class, saying, “Hey, this function is part of me!” In C++, when you define a member function outside of its class declaration, you must specify which class the function belongs to. This keeps everything organized and avoids chaos in larger projects. Think of it as setting the scene before an exciting performance!
