/* pointers to objects. the use of -> to access members of objects
   from a pointer to an object 
*/

#include<iostream.h>

class Rectangle{
private:
  double width, length;
public:
  void init(double,double);
  double area();
};

void Rectangle::init(double x, double y){
  width = x; 
  length = y;
}

double Rectangle::area(){

  double area = width * length;

  cout << "The area of a rectangle with length " << length << " and width "
       << width << " is " << area << ".\n";

  return area;  
}

void main(){

  Rectangle r, * r_address;
  r.init(4,2);
  r_address = &r;
  double a =  r_address->area();

  /* this syntax is nicer than, but equivalent to, the following */

  double b = (*r_address).area();

  cout << "a is " << a << "; b is " << b << ".\n";
}