Trace the output of the C code: float a = −17.245; printf("%8.3f", a);

Question

ScanSolve AI Tutor · Accepted Answer

Here's the trace out put for the given C code:

Initialize the variable.
A float variable a is declared and assigned the value $-17.245$ .
Interpret the printf format specifier.
The printf statement uses the format specifier "%8.3f".
- .3f means the floating-point number will be printed with exactly 3 digits after the decimal point.
- 8 means the total output will occupy a field width of 8 characters. If the number is shorter than 8 characters, it will be right-justified with leading spaces.
Format the value.
The value of a is $-17.245$ .
- With .3f, the number remains $-17.245$ as it already has 3 decimal places.
- The string "-17.245" has 7 characters (1 for '-', 2 for integer part, 1 for '.', 3 for decimal part).
- Since the specified width is 8, and the number itself is 7 characters long, one leading space will be added to make the total width 8 characters.
The output will be:
$\boxed{\text{ -17.245}}$
(Note: There is one space before the minus sign.)

Trace the output of the C code: float a = -17.245; printf("%8.3f", a);