Question

Suppose you want to change an existing program to have more of a modular architecture. The program contains a basic calculator program. Which of the following would be an appropriate attribute for the calculator class?

Answer 1

In a modular architecture for a basic calculator program, an appropriate attribute for the calculator class could be:

1. **Operation Mode**: This could specify whether the calculator is in basic mode, scientific mode, or graphing mode, etc.

2. **Current Result**: This attribute could hold the result of the last operation performed, allowing the calculator to keep track of the ongoing calculations.

3. **History**: This could be an array or a list that stores a history of operations performed, allowing for features like undo/redo.

4. **Memory**: An attribute to store values in memory (e.g., M+, M-, MR used in many calculators).

5. **Input**: This could be a string or numerical value representing the current input from the user that is being processed.

6. **Precision**: If the calculator deals with floating-point arithmetic, this could define the number of decimal places in calculations.

By having these attributes, the calculator class can function more effectively within a modular architecture and enhance its capabilities by isolating different functionalities or features into distinct modules or components.