Functions and procedures are important ideas in programming that help make code easier to read and use.

Definitions:

• Function: A function is a section of code that does a specific job. It can take in information, called parameters, and give back a result after it runs.
• Procedure: A procedure is similar to a function, but it doesn’t give back a result. Instead, it carries out a series of steps or actions.

Why Are They Important?

1. Reusability: Functions and procedures let us use the same code over and over again. Instead of writing the same code many times, you write it once and use it whenever you need it.

2. Organization: They help break up your code into smaller, manageable pieces. This makes it easier to read and fix if something goes wrong.

3. Parameterization: By using parameters, you can send different values into functions, which makes them flexible. For example, a function that calculates the area can accept different shapes by using parameters.

Return Values:

A function gives back a value using the return statement. You can then use this value for other calculations. This is really helpful for math problems, where you can return results like $a + b$ or even $f(x) = x^2$.

In summary, functions and procedures are key to writing clear and effective code!