C Programming - C Preprocessor - Discussion

Discussion Forum : C Preprocessor - Find Output of Program (Q.No. 5)
5.
What will be the output of the program?
#include<stdio.h>
#define CUBE(x) (x*x*x)

int main()
{
    int a, b=3;
    a = CUBE(b++);
    printf("%d, %d\n", a, b);
    return 0;
}
9, 4
27, 4
27, 6
Error
Answer: Option
Explanation:

The macro function CUBE(x) (x*x*x) calculates the cubic value of given number(Eg: 103.)

Step 1: int a, b=3; The variable a and b are declared as an integer type and varaible b id initialized to 3.

Step 2: a = CUBE(b++); becomes

=> a = b++ * b++ * b++;

=> a = 3 * 3 * 3; Here we are using post-increement operator, so the 3 is not incremented in this statement.

=> a = 27; Here, 27 is store in the variable a. By the way, the value of variable b is incremented by 3. (ie: b=6)

Step 3: printf("%d, %d\n", a, b); It prints the value of variable a and b.

Hence the output of the program is 27, 6.

Discussion:
41 comments Page 1 of 5.

Phaneendra said:   1 decade ago
I don't understand of 'b' value ?
how is it possible tell me please sir.
i expected 'b' value is only 3.
but answer is wrong.

Srinivas said:   1 decade ago
Here how 'b' value became six can you explain in detail?

Ankur said:   1 decade ago
According to Dennis Ritchie any variable can't be incremented more thar once in a single statement as in the problem and signal error when run in ASCII compiler.

Shweta said:   1 decade ago
In step 2, I did not get that why cube (b++) is used. It could also b written as cube (b). Writing b++ means we are incrementing it then we cube it and not even understood the output value of b.

Swasti said:   1 decade ago
Actually here post increment therefore while doing this

a = CUBE(b++);
>>>a=b++*b++*b++;
a=3*3*3;
b=3+1+1+1;

Therefore 6.

Neetesh said:   1 decade ago
If we increment the value of b as pre increment then the answer is different

a=CUBE(++b) then the value of

a=150 and b=6

How is it possible? Please explain this compile in GCC.

Mayank Sachan said:   1 decade ago
If b is incremented to 6 then in that case cube of it should also be incremented like 3*4*5.

Pushkar bhauryal said:   1 decade ago
@Neetesh.
In pre increment CUBE(++b); is proceed as
b=3 initial value:
For first x in cube value ++b =4
For second X value is ++4=5
For third x value is ++5=6
Now the output=4*5*6=150

Prashant said:   1 decade ago
Actual answer is (b++*b++*b++)

3*4*5


60 and b=6;

Mangusta said:   1 decade ago
@Prashant.

I got that output in TurboC, then I re-launched it and compiled again, and this time it showed 27, 6.


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