Write a single C statement to accomplish each of the following: a) Multiply the variable product by 2 using the *= operator. b) Multiply the variable product by 2 using the = and * operators. c) Test whether the value of the variable count is greater than 10. If it is, print “Count is greater than 10”.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Here are the correct C statements for each task:
a) Multiply the variable product by 2 using the *= operator:
product *= 2;
b) Multiply the variable product by 2 using the = and * operators:
product = product * 2;
c) Test whether the value of the variable count is greater than 10. If it is, print “Count is greater than 10”:
if (count > 10) {
printf("Count is greater than 10\n");
}
Explanation (300 words):
In C programming, it’s important to understand both arithmetic and conditional operations, as well as how to use them effectively in different contexts.
a) product *= 2;
This line uses the compound assignment operator *=, which is shorthand for multiplication followed by assignment. It’s equivalent to writing product = product * 2, but is more concise and efficient. It multiplies the current value of product by 2 and stores the result back in product.
b) product = product * 2;
This line explicitly multiplies the variable product by 2 and then assigns the result back to product. It uses the = assignment operator and the * multiplication operator separately. This version is more verbose but functionally identical to the shorthand used in (a). Understanding both formats helps with code readability and flexibility.
c) if (count > 10) { printf("Count is greater than 10\n"); }
This line uses an if statement to perform a conditional check. The expression count > 10 is a relational operation that returns true if count holds a value greater than 10. If the condition is true, the code inside the curly braces runs, executing the printf function to display a message. This type of control structure is fundamental in decision-making in programs.
Altogether, these examples show how to use operators and control structures to manipulate data and make decisions — a core part of programming in C.