For loop to calculate factorials

Anthony Johnson picture Anthony Johnson · May 16, 2013 · Viewed 99k times · Source

Currently I have this set of code and its meant to calculate factorials.

int numberInt = int.Parse(factorialNumberTextBox.Text);

for (int i = 1; i < numberInt; i++)
{
  numberInt = numberInt * i;
}

factorialAnswerTextBox.Text = numberInt.ToString();

For some reason it doesn't work and i have no clue why. For example i will input 3 and get the answer as -458131456 which seems really strange.

Any help appreciated. Thanks

Answer

Wim Ombelets picture Wim Ombelets · May 16, 2013
int numberInt = int.Parse(factorialNumberTextBox.Text);
int result = numberInt;

for (int i = 1; i < numberInt; i++)
{
    result = result * i;
}

factorialAnswerTextBox.Text = result.ToString();

on a side note: this would normally NOT be the correct way to calculate factorials. You'll need a check on the input before you can begin calculation, in case your starting value is 1 or below, in that case you need to manually return 1.

On another side note: this is also a perfect example of where recursive methods can be useful.

int Factorial(int i)
{
    if (i <= 1)
        return 1;
    return i * Factorial(i - 1);
}