C++ arithmetic if operator

Question

I've been trying to get the arithmetic if operator to work but I just can't seem to do it. I'm new to C++ and still learning the basics but I'm just wondering if I'm using this operator correctly. It's supposed to return false if x < y. Is this the correct way to do it? I'm aware I can use an if else but I'm just wondering if I can also do it like this and if I can what I'm doing wrong.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int x =0;
int y =1;

bool test()
{
    return (x < y) ? true : false;
}

int main()
{
cout << test;
return 0;
}

Answer 1

Change

cout << test;

to

cout << test();

Otherwise you're not calling the function.

Also, the following:

return (x < y) ? true : false;

does the opposite of what you say you're trying to do ("return false if x < y").

The correct way is:

return (x < y) ? false : true;

Note that in this case the ternary operator is unnecessary, since you can simply do:

return !(x < y);

Answer 2

You state:

It suppose to return false if x < y

And you're trying to learn about the arithmetic if (ternary) operator, so ignore all the advice to eliminate it.

The first part after the ? is what will be returned if the expression is true, and the second part after the : is what will be returned if it is not true. Thus you have your return values reversed, and it should be:

return (x < y) ? false : true;