How does a sum of functions work?

The sums in MQL4 look like they are done backwards. are they?

hi,

what do you mean by sum? im not sure i really understand your question...

sum: double a = b + c; something like that?

yes, that is what i mean!

But a sum of functions I guess would be the same.

ZEROperiod=TotalBARSindicatorREADS-NumOfBARSused2calcINDperiod-1;

is like

A=B-C-1;

how does this work, is it read/performed backwards?

im not really sure what you mean by backwards, but still i try to reply from my point of understanding...

in your example: ZEROperiod=TotalBARSindicatorREADS()-NumOfBARSused2calcINDperiod()-1;
i just added brackets, to really make it functions in that example the program would go and call the function TotalBARSindiREADS() to get a value, then call NumOfWhatever() to get a value from there, subtract it from the first, subtract one, and then it would assign that sum to the variable called ZEROperiod.

anyone pls correct me if im mistaken on that...

the brackets make them functions?

i thort that the black writtings are lables of the funtions

You have confused functions with variables. Its one of the many mistakes you make early on in programing language.
Listen to the word you have said;
'Function'
What is a function? Think about it, or think about a real world example of a function, like a car. You put your foot on the accellerator and air and gas is pumped into the engine and the engine increases in revs. The result of this is the car goes faster. This whole process could be described as a function. With a function, you get a result.

'Variable'
What is a Variable? Think about the word Vary. It means its not the same, or it changes. Think of it also as meaning a single value. This could be a number, a word or 'string' as we like to call in the programming world, or a bool such as true. In the example above the variable wud be the pressure your foot applies to the pedal as a value in force, so newtons.

So when you speak of functions you actually mean:

How does a sum of Variables work?

Speed = Force x Time. (As an example it is wrong I know)

You can do a sum of functions also but I dont think this is what you mean.

And you are right it does perform calculations 'backwards' as it where.

When you want to do a simple sum such as A + B = C, you have to reverse it for a computer to understand it.
So C = A + B.

What you are doing here is assigning the command 'A' + 'B', to the letter 'C'.

Now if you want to find out what A + B is, all you have to do from now on is type 'C', and it will perform this calulation.
Hope this helps a little. Give it time.

thankyou.

np.