Why Does Integer Division in C Produce Unexpected Zero Results When Using Doubles?

Division Result Confusion: Why Does 3/5 Yield Zero Despite Being Stored as a Double?

When attempting to perform division (/) in C , it's crucial to understand the data types involved. Division of integers (int types) results in integer division, which discards the fractional part. However, this can lead to unexpected results when dealing with doubles.

Example:

Consider the following code:

#include <iostream>

int main() {
  double f = 3 / 5;
  std::cout << f;
  return 0;
}

Unexpected Output:

To the surprise of many, this code prints 0 instead of the expected 0.6.

Explanation:

The division operator (/) performs integer division because both 3 and 5 are integers. To rectify this, ensure that one operand is a real number. This can be achieved by adding a decimal point, as seen in this corrected version:

double f = 3.0 / 5;

This modification forces the compiler to perform floating-point division, which correctly results in 0.6.

Conclusion:

When performing division with doubles, it's essential to consider the data types involved. Using floating-point operands ensures that the result retains its fractional part, leading to the desired outcome.

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