Connecting 2 arrays, a string array and a number array - c++

Question

So, I have an array called rainfall which has data of rainfall for 12 months stored in. And also a string array for the months (jan,feb...). And I will have to sort the rainfall array from highest to lowest. How do I connect this 2 arrays, so I can print them out together properly after sorting out the rainfall array.
This is my code :
#include <iostream>
#include <iomanip>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
void selectionSort(double array[],int size)
{
int startScan, minIndex, maxValue;
for(startScan = 0; startScan < (size - 1); startScan++)
{
minIndex = startScan;
maxValue = array[startScan];
for(int index = startScan + 1; index < size; index++)
{
if (array[index] > maxValue)
{
maxValue = array[index];
minIndex = index;
}
}
array[minIndex] = array[startScan];
array[startScan] = maxValue;
}
}
void highestfunction(double highestrainfall[], string monthtemp[])
{
double highest;
highest = highestrainfall[0];
string highestmonth = "January";
for (int count = 1; count < 12; count++)
{
if (highestrainfall[count] > highest)
{
highest = highestrainfall[count];
highestmonth = monthtemp[count];
}
}
cout << highestmonth << " has highest amount of rainfall: " << highest << " ml" << endl;
}
void lowestfunction(double lowestrainfall[], string monthtemp[])
{
double lowest;
lowest = lowestrainfall[0];
string lowestmonth = "January";
for (int count = 1; count < 12; count++)
{
if(lowestrainfall[count] < lowest)
{
lowest = lowestrainfall[count];
lowestmonth = monthtemp[count];
}
}
cout << lowestmonth << " has lowest amount of rainfall: " << lowest << " ml" << endl;
}
int main()
{
string months[] = { "January",
"February",
"March",
"April",
"May",
"June",
"July",
"August",
"September",
"October",
"November",
"December"};
double rainfall[12];
double total = 0;
double average;
int count;
for (count = 0; count < 12; count++)
{
cout << "Enter the total rainfall (in milliliter) of " << months[count] << ": ";
cin >> rainfall[count];
while(rainfall[count] < 0)
{
cout << "Invalid input!!! Please try again. " << endl;
cout << "Enter the total rainfall (in milliliter) of " << months[count] << ": ";
cin >> rainfall[count];
}
}
for (count = 0; count <12; count++)
{
total += rainfall[count];
}
cout << "----------------------------------------" << endl;
cout << setprecision(2) << showpoint << fixed;
cout << "The total rainfall for a year is: " << total << " ml" << endl;
average = (total / 12);
cout << "The average rainfall monthly rainfall is " << average << " ml" << endl;
highestfunction(rainfall, months);
lowestfunction(rainfall, months);
selectionSort(rainfall, 12);
cout << "List of the months, sorted in order of rainfall from highest to lowest" << endl;
for(count = 0; count < 12; count++)
{
cout << rainfall[count] <<" ml" << endl;
}
return 0;
}

Answer 1

As I understand, you want label each rainfall with a month.
Therefore you can define a struct. For example;
struct RainfallDefinition
{
string month;
double rainfall;
}
now you can use array of RainfallDefinition and sort with respect to rainfall attribute.
If you do not use structs, you can use pair. However, in my opinion using struct is more reliable and readable. You can extend your RainfallDefinition any time. For example, you can also add int year; , int day; attributes etc. and then you can sort without losing any info.

Answer 2

i could suggest a simple algo for it...
take two arrays one array of strings which contains the months...name it
`
string month[12];
/* i.e. 12 months initially give em the month names in regular order...i.e. starting from jan to dec...*/
second array would be a 2 dimensional array...
`
int rainfall[12][2];
// rainfall[i][j] likewise you know rows and columns respectively i m considering
`
put values in it initially like
`
rainfall[0][0]=150; // this is the amount of rainfall in litre or whatever unit
rainfall[0][1]=0;
/* here 2nd column contains the index of month in string, i.e. for now it is 0 that is January...likewise*/
now you sort the rainfall array for the values in rainfall[i][0] and where ever you swap two values for sorting... suppose you swap rainfall[1][0] to rainfall[3][0] then in the next statement in which you swap them...also swap their respective indices...
so in the end u would be having array rainfall in a sorted manner so when u want rainfall[i][0] 's month.. you can check it by month[rainfall[i][1]] ...
**This thing can also be done using pointers and linked list...even a little more efficiently but i did this because when i have choice between using linked list using pointers and without it... i prefer without it
**this could also be done using structure but here is the most organic way i found...