Using local variables in functions or programs, Example of a local variable, What causes an undefined variable error message – Texas Instruments PLUS TI-89 User Manual

Page 307: You must initialize local variables

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290 Chapter 17: Programming

17PROGRM.DOC TI-89/TI-92 Plus: Programming (English) Susan Gullord Revised: 02/23/01 1:14 PM Printed: 02/23/01 2:18 PM Page 290 of 40

The following program segment shows a

For...EndFor

loop (which is

discussed later in this chapter). The variable

i

is the loop counter. In

most cases, the variable

i

is used only while the program is running.

:Local i
:For i,0,5,1
: Disp i
:EndFor
:Disp i

If you declare variable

i

as local, it is deleted automatically when the

program stops so that it does not use up memory.

An

Undefined variable

error message displays when you evaluate a

user-defined function or run a user-defined program that references
a local variable that is not initialized (assigned a value).

This example is a multi-statement function, rather than a program.
Line breaks are shown here, but you would type the text in the entry
line as one continuous line, such as:

Define fact(n)=Func:Local…

where the ellipsis indicates the entry line text continues off-screen.

For example:

Define fact(n)=Func:
Local m:
While n>1:
n

ù

m

!

m: n

ì

1

!

n:

EndWhile:
Return m:
EndFunc

In the example above, the local variable

m

exists independently of

any variable

m

that exists outside of the function.

All local variables must be assigned an initial value before they are
referenced.

Define fact(n)=Func:
Local m: 1

!

m:

While n>1:
n

ù

m

!

m: n

ì

1

!

n:

EndWhile:
Return m:
EndFunc

The

TI

-89 / TI-92 Plus

cannot use a local variable to perform symbolic

calculations.

Using Local Variables in Functions or Programs

A local variable is a temporary variable that exists only while a
user-defined function is being evaluated or a user-defined
program is running.

Example of a Local
Variable

Tip: As often as possible,
use local variables for any
variable that is used only
within a program and does
not need to be stored after
the program stops.

What Causes an
Undefined Variable
Error Message?

You Must Initialize
Local Variables

Local variable m is not assigned an
initial value.

1 is stored as the initial value for m.

Declares variable i as local.

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