How to Create a PostgreSQL Function to Square a Number

Function to Calculate the Square of a Number

Write a PostgreSQL function that takes an integer as input and returns its square.

Solution:

-- Create a function named square_number that takes an integer as input and returns an integer
CREATE FUNCTION square_number(n INT) RETURNS INT AS $$
BEGIN
-- Return the square of the input number
RETURN n * n;
END;
-- Specify the language used in the function as PL/pgSQL
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;

Explanation:

• Purpose of the Query:
• This function computes the square of a given integer.
• Key Components:
• CREATE FUNCTION square_number(n INT) RETURNS INT → Defines a function that accepts an integer and returns an integer.
• RETURN n * n; → Multiplies n by itself to compute the square.
• Real-World Application:
• Useful in mathematical calculations, physics simulations, and financial applications.

For more Practice: Solve these Related Problems:

• Write a PostgreSQL function that returns the cube of a given number.
• Write a PostgreSQL function that calculates the absolute difference between two integers.
• Write a PostgreSQL function that squares a number only if it is even, otherwise returns -1.
• Write a PostgreSQL function that returns the square root of a number rounded to two decimal places.

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