What will be the output of the following C++ code?
#include <iostream.h>
using namespace std;
void square(int *x, int *y)
{
*x = (*x) * --(*y);
}
int main()
{
int number = 30;
square(&number, &number);
cout << number;
return 0;
}
Options
-
A.
30
-
B.
870
-
C.
Segmentation fault
-
D.
More than one of the above
-
E.
None of the above
Correct Answer (Detailed Explanation is Below)
E.
None of the above
Detailed Explanation
Answer: (E) None of the above
The function receives the address of the same variable through both x and y.
Therefore, both *x and *y refer to the same object, number.
The expression (*x) * --(*y) both reads and modifies the same object without the required sequencing between those operations. This results in undefined behavior.
Undefined behavior does not guarantee a particular output such as 30 or 870, and it is also not specifically guaranteed to produce a segmentation fault.
Therefore, among the given choices, (E) None of the above is the best answer.