Shipping Calculator Assignment - Shipping Calculator Bob
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Shipping Calculator Assignment Shipping Calculator Bob Shipping Company will ship your package based on the weight and how far you are sending the package, which can be anywhere in the world. They will only ship small packages up to 10 pounds (which is of data type double or float). You need to have a program, which will help you determine how much they will charge. The charges are based on each 500 miles shipped. The mileage should be in whole numbers.
They are not prorated, i.e., 600 miles is the same charge as 900 miles; 600 and 900 miles are counted as 2 segments of 500 miles each. The table for charges is as follows:
| Package Weight | Rate per 500 miles shipped | Charge |
|----------------------------|---------------------------|----------------------------|
| 2 pounds or less (> 0) | $1.50 | |
| More than 2 but not more than 6 pounds | $3.70 | |
| More than 6 but not more than 10 pounds | $5.25 | |
Your code needs to validate the input completely, e.g., the weight and mileage amounts must be positive. If an input is invalid, e.g., weight is zero or less, you should display an appropriate, professional error message, e.g., "Error: Weight must be greater than zero!", which should be offset and surrounded by whitespace so it stands out, and repeat getting that input until valid input is received.
Ensure your program only prompts for re-entry if the specific input is invalid, avoiding re-asking for both values unnecessarily. Follow good programming practices, such as initializing variables appropriately, avoiding stacked if or if-else constructs unless necessary, and not using break, continue, or goto statements.
The program should be structured using these functions:
- main(): prompts user for miles and weight, displays the cost, and asks if they want to process another customer.
- milesToSegment(int miles): calculates the number of 500-mile segments based on miles.
- twoPounds(int segment, double cost): calculates shipping cost for packages ≤ 2 pounds.
- twoToSixPounds(int segment, double cost): for >2 and ≤6 pounds.
- sixToTenPounds(int segment, double cost): for >6 and ≤10 pounds.
The input validation and functionality should be tested with various cases, including boundary conditions and invalid inputs.
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Paper For Above instruction
The objective of this program is to create a shipping cost calculator for Bob Shipping Company based on user input regarding package weight and shipping distance. The program emphasizes rigorous input validation, structured modular design with functions, and iterative processing for multiple customers. Next, the detailed implementation and reasoning are presented.
The first step involves validating user inputs. The program prompts the user to input whole-number miles and the package weight in pounds. Negative or zero values for either are invalid; the program displays an error message in a clear, professional manner and prompts again, ensuring users do not proceed with invalid data. This validation process is implemented through loops that persist until valid input is provided, which enhances user experience and prevents runtime errors.
Once valid input for miles and weight is obtained, the program calculates the number of 500-mile segments required for shipping. This calculation is performed in the milesToSegment() function. It employs integer division and rounding logic to account for partial segments, where any remaining miles after division are considered as an additional segment. For example, 1201 miles will be counted as 3 segments, enabling consistent charging based on whole segments.
The subsequent step involves determining the shipping charge based on weight and distance segments. The program follows a tiered rate structure:
- Up to 2 pounds: $1.50 per segment
- >2 to 6 pounds: $3.70 per segment
- >6 to 10 pounds: $5.25 per segment
For weights exceeding 10 pounds, the program displays an error message and prompts re-entry, since the company does not ship packages over 10 pounds.
The program adopts a modular design, with separate functions responsible for calculating costs based on weight categories:
- twoPounds() handles packages ≤ 2 pounds.
- twoToSixPounds() handles packages >2 and ≤6 pounds.
- sixToTenPounds() handles packages >6 and ≤10 pounds.
These functions take the number of segments and current cost as parameters, compute the additional charge, and update the total cost.
The main() function orchestrates the process, prompting users for input, invoking the segment and cost functions accordingly, and displaying the total shipping cost formatted as currency. Proper variable initialization is observed, and after each transaction, the program asks whether to process another customer or exit. The loop continues until the user inputs a termination command, at which point the program outputs "Good-bye!" and exits.
This program exemplifies good programming practices by avoiding nested if-else or complex branching structures where unnecessary, ensuring clear readability and maintainability. It integrates comprehensive validation, modular calculation functions, and a user-friendly loop mechanism to handle multiple records effectively, serving as a practical solution for shipping cost estimation.
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