function pointers generate 'invalid use of non-static member function' error

Question

I am trying to grasp pointer function concept in a better way. So I have a very simple and working example as:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int add(int first, int second)
{
    return first + second;
}

int subtract(int first, int second)
{
    return first - second;
}

int operation(int first, int second, int (*functocall)(int, int))
{
    return (*functocall)(first, second);
}

int main()
{
    int  a, b;
    int  (*plus)(int, int);
    int  (*minus)(int, int);
    plus = &add;
    minus = &subtract;
    a = operation(7, 5, add);
    b = operation(20, a, minus);
    cout << "a = " << a << " and b = " << b << endl;
    return 0;
}

So far so good, Now I need to group the functions in a class, and select add or subtract based on the function pointer that i use. So I just make a small modification as:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

class A
{
public:
int add(int first, int second)
{
    return first + second;
}

int subtract(int first, int second)
{
    return first - second;
}

int operation(int first, int second, int (*functocall)(int, int))
{
    return (*functocall)(first, second);
}
};

int main()
{
    int  a, b;
    A a_plus, a_minus;
    int (*plus)(int, int) = A::add;
    int (*minus)(int, int) = A::subtract;
    a = a_plus.operation(7, 5, plus);
    b = a_minus.operation(20, a, minus);
    cout << "a = " << a << " and b = " << b << endl;
    return 0;
}

and the obvious error is:

ptrFunc.cpp: In function ‘int main()’:
ptrFunc.cpp:87:29: error: invalid use of non-static member function ‘int A::add(int, int)’
ptrFunc.cpp:88:30: error: invalid use of non-static member function ‘int A::subtract(int, int)’

coz I haven't specified which object to invoke(and I don't want to use static methods for now)

EDIT: several comments and answers suggested that the non-static version(as I have written) is not possible.(thanks to all) So, Modifying the class in the following manner also wont work:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

class A
{
    int res;
public:
    A(int choice)
    {
        int (*plus)(int, int) = A::add;
        int (*minus)(int, int) = A::subtract;
        if(choice == 1)
            res = operation(7, 5, plus);
        if(choice == 2)
            res = operation(20, 2, minus);
        cout << "result of operation = " << res;
    }
int add(int first, int second)
{
    return first + second;
}

int subtract(int first, int second)
{
    return first - second;
}

int operation(int first, int second, int (*functocall)(int, int))
{
    return (*functocall)(first, second);
}
};

int main()
{
    int  a, b;
    A a_plus(1);
    A a_minus(2);
    return 0;
}

generated this error:

ptrFunc.cpp: In constructor ‘A::A(int)’:
ptrFunc.cpp:11:30: error: cannot convert ‘A::add’ from type ‘int (A::)(int, int)’ to type ‘int (*)(int, int)’
ptrFunc.cpp:12:31: error: cannot convert ‘A::subtract’ from type ‘int (A::)(int, int)’ to type ‘int (*)(int, int)’

may I know how to solve this issue please?

thanks

Answer 1

The syntax to declare a function pointer to member methods is:

int (A::*plus)(int, int) = &A::add;
int (A::*minus)(int, int) = &A::subtract;

To invoke member methods use .* or ->* operator:

 (a_plus.*plus)(7, 5);

Also have a look at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/b0x1aatf(v=vs.80).aspx

Hope this helps.

Complete code:

     #include <iostream>

    using namespace std;

    class A
    {
    public:
    int add(int first, int second)
    {
        return first + second;
    }

    int subtract(int first, int second)
    {
        return first - second;
    }

    int operation(int first, int second, int (A::*functocall)(int, int))
    {
        return (this->*functocall)(first, second);
    }
    };

    int main()
    {
        int  a, b;
        A a_plus, a_minus;
        int (A::*plus)(int, int) = &A::add;
        int (A::*minus)(int, int) = &A::subtract;
        a = a_plus.operation(7, 5, plus);
        b = a_minus.operation(20, a, minus);
        cout << "a = " << a << " and b = " << b << endl;
        return 0;
    }

Answer 2

You can't pass non-static member function as argument that easy. And for your needs, I believe it's better to override operators: http://www.learncpp.com/cpp-tutorial/92-overloading-the-arithmetic-operators/

But if you really need them as actual member functions - just make them static.

Answer 3

The edit you made to your code is still wrong because it doesn't make the member functions static. You need to make the add, subtract etc. functions static by adding the static specifier:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

class A
{
    int res;
public:
    A(int choice)
    {
        int (*plus)(int, int) = A::add;
        int (*minus)(int, int) = A::subtract;
        if(choice == 1)
            res = operation(7, 5, plus);
        if(choice == 2)
            res = operation(20, 2, minus);
        cout << "result of operation = " << res;
    }
static int add(int first, int second)
{
    return first + second;
}

static int subtract(int first, int second)
{
    return first - second;
}

static int operation(int first, int second, int (*functocall)(int, int))
{
    return (*functocall)(first, second);
}
};