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 2 of 5.

Laxmikant said:   9 years ago
The answer is 60, 6.
a = cube(b++) means initially b = 3 then ++ makes it 4 and again ++ makes it 5 which equals to 3 x 4 x 5 = 60. Which is the value of a, and now at last b becomes 6.

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

Amrendra said:   7 years ago
@Chandu.

At first ++b means b=4,
Then * operator comes,then ++b means b=5,
Then multiplication is done i.e 5*5=25,
Then *, then ++b means b=6,
Then finally 25*6=150, a=150 and b=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.

Sudip said:   1 decade ago
Guys the correct answer is 60, 6. I compiled this program in other version i.e. GNU GCC version 4.7.2 and other too. And in this compiler its showing 27, 6! absolutely wrong.

Himansu said:   1 decade ago
What was output of :

#define PRODUCT(x) ( x * x )
main( )
{
int i = 3, j, k ;
j = PRODUCT( i++ ) ;
k = PRODUCT ( ++i ) ;
printf ( "\n%d %d", j, k ) ;
}

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.

Richik said:   6 years ago
The explanation is wrong. The answer will be 60,6 in macro cube receives value 3. i.e
b=3.

Cube(3++) (3++*4++*5++).

So, 3*4*5 and finally b is returned as 6.

Sam said:   1 decade ago
Actually the behaviour is undefined.

In Turbo C k=++i + ++i; i.e., 2*i then i incremented two times.
In GCC k=++i + ++i; i incremented two times then 2*i;.

Chandu said:   8 years ago
#include<stdio.h>
#define CUBE(x) (x*x*x)
main()
{
int a,b=3;
a=CUBE(++b);
printf("%d, %d\n",a,b);
}

How answer is coming 150, 6?


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