Returning Information

real_short get_distance (const Point& p)	const function
real_short get_distance (void)	const function

The version of this function taking a Point argument returns a real_short r, whose real part (r.first) represents the distance of p from the Plane. This value is always positive. r.second can take on three values: 0 If the Point lies in the Plane. 1 If it lies on the side of the Plane pointed at by the normal to the Plane, considered to be the "outside". -1 If it lies on the side of the Plane not pointed at by the normal to the Plane, considered to be the "inside". The version taking no argument returns the absolute of the data member distance and its sign, i.e., the distance of origin to the Plane, and which side of the Plane it lies on. It would have been possible to use origin as the default for an optional Point argument, but I've chosen to overload this function, because of problems that may arise, when I implement user_coordinates and view_coordinates (see Point Reference; Data Members). Point N(0, 1); N.rotate(-10, 20, 20); Point P(1, 1, 1); Plane q(P, N); Point A(4, -2, 4); Point B(-1, 3, 2); Point C = q.intersection_point(A, B).pt; real_short bp; bp = q.get_distance(); cout << bp.first; -| 0.675646 cout << bp.second -| -1 bp = q.get_distance(A) cout << bp.first; -| 3.40368 cout << bp.second; -| -1 bp = q.get_distance(B) cout << bp.first; -| 2.75865 cout << bp.second; -| 1 bp = q.get_distance(C) cout << bp.first; -| 0 cout << bp.second; -| 0 Fig. 106.