How can I run multiple functions after an if statement - c++

Question

How can I have a the return and cout both take place as a result of being true or false?
gameState computerMove(gameState state) {
if (sizeOfPile(state,1) > 0)
return removeCoinsFromPile(state,1,1);
cout << "I take 1 coin from Pile 1." << endl;
else
return removeCoinsFromPile(state,1,2);
cout << "I take 1 coin from Pile 2" << endl;

Answer 1

C++ uses the concept of a "compound statement" - a statement made up of multiple sub-statements - denoted by brackets, { and }, just as you used for your function.
gameState computerMove(gameState state) {
}
You can use a compound statement pretty much anywhere you can use a regular statement:
int sum = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < 100; ++i)
sum += i;
or
int sum = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < 100; ++i) {
sum += i;
}
These do the same thing, but if we need to add more instructions inside the for, we add them between the '{'s.
One important thing about this: a compound statement is considered to have "scope"
int i = 1;
{
int i = 2;
std::cout << "inside, i = " << i << '\n';
}
std::cout << "outside, i = " << i << '\n';
Programmers sometimes use this to maintain lifetime of advanced objects. The following code opens a file and releases it as soon as we're done with it - because that's what happens when the 'istream' object goes out of scope.
std::string instructions;
{
std::istream file("instructions.txt");
file >> instructions;
} // <-- 'file' goes away, which closes the file.
However: the return keyword causes a function to end and return a value. So you're going to have to do that after your cout.
if (sizeOfPile(state,1) > 0) {
cout << "I take 1 coin from Pile 1." << endl;
return removeCoinsFromPile(state,1,1);
}

Answer 2

Your function ends after the return statement, so you should prepare what to return in a variable, print it, and then do the return, like this:
int res;
if (sizeOfPile(state,1) > 0) {
res = removeCoinsFromPile(state,1,1);
cout << "I take 1 coin from Pile 1." << endl;
} else {
res = removeCoinsFromPile(state,1,2);
cout << "I take 1 coin from Pile 2" << endl;
}
return res;
However, in your specific case you can rewrite this without an if by using a conditional operator:
int pile = sizeOfPile(state,1) > 0 ? 1 : 2;
res = removeCoinsFromPile(state, 1, pile);
cout << "I take 1 coin from Pile " << pile << endl;
return res;

Answer 3

You could move the return statement to after the cout statement.
gameState computerMove(gameState state) {
int res;
if (sizeOfPile(state,1) > 0) {
cout << "I take 1 coin from Pile 1." << endl;
res = removeCoinsFromPile(state,1,1);
} else {
cout << "I take 1 coin from Pile 2" << endl;
res = removeCoinsFromPile(state,1,2);
}
return res;
}
This website might be helpful when learning about functions in c++.