Comprehending some C code (simple function calls)

[Arnoldjavs3]

Homework Statement

Hi, I have a piece of code that I'm trying to comprehend but I don't understand some aspects. Here is that code:

#include <stdio.h> 

/* function prototype declaration for FindSum */

void FindSum(int, int, int *);

int main(void)
{

int a=2, b=5, c=1, x=3, y=4, z=7; 

/* body of main */

 FindSum (a, b, &c); /* a first call to FindSum */ 
 printf(“first call in main %d %d %d %d %d %d \n”, a, b, c, x, y, z); 
 FindSum (x, y, &z); /* a second call to FindSum */
 printf(“second call in main %d %d %d %d %d %d \n”, a, b, c, x, y, z); 

return 0;

}/* definition of FindSum */

void FindSum (int a, int b, int *c)
{

 a += (b * 2);
 b += (b * 2);
*c += (b * 2);

 printf(“in FindSum: %d %d %d \n”, a, b, *c); 

}

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

The first things I'm trying to get a grasp on:
In the main function, where it first calls FindSum it has a b c as its parameters, and in the second call it has x y and z. Is this initial call to the function only going to edit the values of the integers for a b and c? Would it simply then shout out the values of x y and z? If this is the case, I'm assuming it would do the same for the second call to the function, but for x y and z. (And this is where it begins to confuse me)

In the function of FindSum, it only modifies the value of a, b, and c. During the second call to the function FindSum, would it simply echo the values of x y and z? They won't be changed?

And in the line "b += (b*2)" would it be

a += (5 *2)
b += (5 * 2)
*c += (10 * 2)

Sorry for all the questions. I'll try compiling the code when I'm at home, but for now I just want to try acting like the computer. Thanks a lot!

 

[Svein]

Is this initial call to the function only going to edit the values of the integers for a b and c?

No. The first two parameters (here a and b) are called by value, which means that just a copy is sent to FindSum. The third parameter (here c) is called by reference, which means that it may be changed by FindSum.

Would it simply then shout out the values of x y and z?

What exactly do you mean by that?

In the function of FindSum, it only modifies the value of a, b, and c

Oops - inside FindSum, a, b and c refers to the parameters to the function, not to the variables with the same name in main. As I explained above, only the third parameter may be assigned to - and it is.

During the second call to the function FindSum, would it simply echo the values of x y and z? They won't be changed?

Again: A copy of x and y are sent to FindSum as parameters. FindSum modifies the variable referenced by the third parameter, so z will be changed.

a += (5 *2)
b += (5 * 2)
*c += (10 * 2)

Almost correct - but since b was 5 to begin with, when you add (5*2), it becomes 15 before the line with *c. Thus *c += (15*2).