diff --git a/how_memory_works/addresses_&_pointers.c b/how_memory_works/addresses_&_pointers.c
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+++ b/how_memory_works/addresses_&_pointers.c
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+#include <iostream>
+using namespace std;
+
+int main() {
+    char c = 'A';
+    cout << c << "\n";
+    // cout << &c << "\n";  // address of c. The compiler will show again the value and not the address
+    void* p = &c;  // let's define a pointer to get the address
+    cout << p << "\n";
+    cout << sizeof(c) << "\n";  // it'll give 1 byte (for chars)
+    int i = 10;
+    void* q = &i;
+    cout << q << "\n";
+    cout << sizeof(i) << "\n";  // it'll give 4 bytes (for ints)
+    char* r = &c; // the pointer "r" will hold the address of c
+    cout << c << "\n";  // will print "A"
+    *r = 'B';  // * is the "dereference" op
+    cout << c << "\n";  // will print "B" because the pointer was modified right before
+}
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diff --git a/how_memory_works/c b/how_memory_works/c
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diff --git a/how_memory_works/heap.c b/how_memory_works/heap.c
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/how_memory_works/heap.c
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+#include <iostream>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+#include <memory>
+using namespace std;
+
+// motivation for using the heap is it is dynamic
+int main () {
+    vector<int> x(1000);
+    cout << "size of x = " << sizeof(x) << "\n";  //only 24 bytes instead of 4*1000!!!
+    int* p = new int(8);  // allocate a new byte from the heap (naked pointer)
+    cout << *p << "\n";
+    int y = *p;
+    cout << y << "\n";
+
+    delete p; // be careful though; the heap has to be cleared explicitly! memory leaks!!!
+
+    unique_ptr<int> q (new int(8)); // smart pointers that deletes themselves when destroyed
+    cout << *q << "\n";
+    int z = *q;
+    cout << z << "\n";
+}
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diff --git a/how_memory_works/passing_values.c b/how_memory_works/passing_values.c
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/how_memory_works/passing_values.c
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+#include <iostream>
+using namespace std;
+
+// passing by value
+// will not modify the value
+void Foo(int x) {
+    cout << "FOO x = " << x << "\n";
+    x += 1;
+    cout << "BAR x = " << x << "\n";
+}
+
+// passing by reference
+// will modify the value if a reference is used
+void Foo(int x, int& y) {
+    cout << "FOO x = " << x << "\n";
+    cout << "FOO y = " << y << "\n";
+    x += 1;
+    y += 2;
+    cout << "BAR x = " << x << "\n";
+    cout << "BAR j = " << y << "\n";
+}
+
+// passing by pointer
+// will modify the value if a pointer is used
+void Foo(int x, int& y, int* z) {
+    cout << "FOO x = " << x << "\n";
+    cout << "FOO y = " << y << "\n";
+    cout << "FOO z = " << *z << "\n";
+    x += 1;
+    y += 2;
+    *z += 3;  // use the * operator when using pointers
+    cout << "BAR x = " << x << "\n";
+    cout << "BAR j = " << y << "\n";
+    cout << "BAR z = " << *z << "\n";
+}
+
+int main() {
+    int i = 10;
+    int j = 20;
+    int k = 30;
+    cout << "ORIG i = " << i << "\n";
+    cout << "ORIG j = " << j << "\n";
+    cout << "ORIG k = " << k << "\n";
+    Foo(i, j, &k);  // when passing by pointer, used &
+    cout << "AFTER i = " << i << "\n";
+    cout << "AFTER j = " << j << "\n";
+    cout << "AFTER k = " << k << "\n";
+}
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diff --git a/how_memory_works/to_upper.c b/how_memory_works/to_upper.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4960104
--- /dev/null
+++ b/how_memory_works/to_upper.c
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#include <iostream>
+#include <string>
+using namespace std;
+
+void ToUpper(string& s) {
+    for (int i=0; i<s.length(); i++) {
+        s[i] = toupper(s[i]);
+    }
+    // for (char& c : s) {
+    //     c = toupper(c);
+    // }
+}
+
+int main() {
+    string name("dog");
+    cout << name << "\n";
+    ToUpper(name);
+    cout << name << "\n";
+}
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