#include class parent { public: int i1; parent() { i1 = 0; } void f1() { i1 = i1 + 1; cout << "parent method f1" << endl; cout << "parent's i1 = " << i1 << endl; } }; class child : public parent { public: int i1; }; int main(int argc, char **argv) { child x; x.i1 = 1234; // Set i1 in child cout << "x.i1 = " << x.i1 << endl; x.f1(); // This is how you must get to i1 in parent // So i1 in parent is useless to child... }