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We can swap two numbers from one memory location to another through addition and subtraction operations.
The following is an explanation of the algorithm−
Step 1: Declare 2 variables x and y. Step 2: Read two numbers from keyboard. Step 3: Swap numbers. //Apply addition and subtraction operations to swap the numbers. i. x=x+y ii. y=x-y iii. x=x-y Step 4: Print x and y values.
The following is a C program to explain how Swap two numbers without using a third variable or a temporary variable:
#include<stdio.h> int main(){ int x,y; printf("enter x and y values:"); scanf("%d%d",&x,&y);// lets take x as 20 and y as 30 x=x+y;// x=20+30=50 y=x-y;//y=50-30=20 x=x-y;//x=50-20=30 printf("After swap x=%d and y=%d",x,y); return 0; }
You will get the following output−
enter x and y values:20 30 After swap x=30 and y=20
Note - We can use multiplication, division and bitwise XOR operators to swap two numbers without using a third variable.
Consider another example that explains how to use the multiplication and division operators to swap two numbers.
The following is a C program that demonstrates the corresponding function of exchanging two numbers:
#include<stdio.h> int main(){ int x,y; printf("enter x and y values:"); scanf("%d%d",&x,&y); x=x*y; y=x/y; x=x/y; printf("After swap x=%d and y=%d",x,y); return 0; }
When you execute the above program, you will get the following output −
enter x and y values:120 250 After swap x=250 and y=120
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