oh, no! my function won't work.

I am trying to write a program that will print the smallest of 3 floating-point numbers using a function. I just learned how to do this function business today... so I'm pretty confused. Can anyone tell me what I did wrong?

Code:

#include <stdio.h> 
#include <stdlib.h> 

float minimum( float x, float y, float z ); 

int main( void ) 
{ 
float num1, num2, num3; 

printf( "Enter 3 numbers.\n" ); 
scanf( "%.2f%.2f%.2f", &num1, &num2, &num3 ); 

printf( "Minimum is %.2f\n", minimum( num1, num2, num3 ) ); 

system("pause"); 
return 0; 
} 

float minimum( float x, float y, float z ) 
{ 
float min; 

if((x < y ) && ( x < z )) { 
min = x; 
} 
if((y < x ) && ( y < z )) { 
min = y; 
} 
if((z < x ) && ( z < y )) { 
min = z; 
} 

return min; 
}

Originally Posted by student0806

I am trying to write a program that will print the smallest of 3 floating-point numbers using a function. I just learned how to do this function business today... so I'm pretty confused. Can anyone tell me what I did wrong?

Code:

#include <stdio.h> 
#include <stdlib.h> 

float minimum( float x, float y, float z ); 

int main( void ) 
{ 
float num1, num2, num3; 

printf( "Enter 3 numbers.\n" ); 
scanf( "%.2f%.2f%.2f", &num1, &num2, &num3 ); 

printf( "Minimum is %.2f\n", minimum( num1, num2, num3 ) ); 

system("pause"); 
return 0; 
} 

float minimum( float x, float y, float z ) 
{ 
float min; 

if((x < y ) && ( x < z )) { 
min = x; 
} 
if((y < x ) && ( y < z )) { 
min = y; 
} 
if((z < x ) && ( z < y )) { 
min = z; 
} 

return min; 
}

Tweak your scanf() in main() to look like this:

Code:

scanf( "%f %f %f", &num1, &num2, &num3 );

The FAQ here can fill you in on scanf() requirements. I tested it and it works.

I have no comment on any other code.

edit: I should suggest that you indent your code, it will help you & us to easily see the flow as your
programs get larger.

Thanks! I feel silly.

Originally Posted by student0806

Thanks! I feel silly.

No, don't! Right now I looking at my C - A Reference Manual, 5th ed.

And I'm on page 378. Lots of complicate stuff there on scanf()

I'm studying it now, and I'll get back to as why your %.2f that you
used caused a crash.

What's worrying me is there does exist a "specified maximum field width"

Ill get back later.

***************

OK I found what we were looking for. It's a lot quicker for me to search the FAQ
than reading that reference book.

PI is the one that gives the answer to that. The post is I think 2005, and nobody corrected
him so...

sscanf with double?

The .2 before the f in scanf() is a precision specifier, not a field width. AFAIK, printf() has the precision specifier, but scanf() doesn't.

Originally Posted by Adak

The .2 before the f in scanf() is a precision specifier, not a field width. AFAIK, printf() has the precision specifier, but scanf() doesn't.

Thanks Adak! That seems to be the consensus of one old thread. I have the
reference book mentioned above.. it's a case of too much information (511) on scanf()
of several pages of technical detail.

I prefer, "just the facts, ma'am" such as the brief details found on this website.