50.C Program to Multiply to Matrix Using Multi-dimensional Arrays

C Program to Multiply to Matrix Using Multi-dimensional Arrays

This program takes two matrices of order r1*c1 and r2*c2 respectively. Then, the program multiplies these two matrices (if possible) and displays it on the screen.

To understand this example, you should have the knowledge of following C programming topics:

• C Programming Arrays
• C Programming Multidimensional Arrays

To multiply two matrices, the number of columns of first matrix should be equal to the number of rows to second matrix. This program displays the error until the number of columns of first matrix is equal to the number of rows of second matrix.

Example: Program to Multiply Two Matrices

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    int a[10][10], b[10][10], result[10][10], r1, c1, r2, c2, i, j, k;

    printf("Enter rows and column for first matrix: ");
    scanf("%d %d", &r1, &c1);

    printf("Enter rows and column for second matrix: ");
    scanf("%d %d",&r2, &c2);

    // Column of first matrix should be equal to column of second matrix and
    while (c1 != r2)
    {
        printf("Error! column of first matrix not equal to row of second.\n\n");
        printf("Enter rows and column for first matrix: ");
        scanf("%d %d", &r1, &c1);
        printf("Enter rows and column for second matrix: ");
        scanf("%d %d",&r2, &c2);
    }

    // Storing elements of first matrix.
    printf("\nEnter elements of matrix 1:\n");
    for(i=0; i<r1; ++i)
        for(j=0; j<c1; ++j)
        {
            printf("Enter elements a%d%d: ",i+1, j+1);
            scanf("%d", &a[i][j]);
        }

    // Storing elements of second matrix.
    printf("\nEnter elements of matrix 2:\n");
    for(i=0; i<r2; ++i)
        for(j=0; j<c2; ++j)
        {
            printf("Enter elements b%d%d: ",i+1, j+1);
            scanf("%d",&b[i][j]);
        }

    // Initializing all elements of result matrix to 0
    for(i=0; i<r1; ++i)
        for(j=0; j<c2; ++j)
        {
            result[i][j] = 0;
        }

    // Multiplying matrices a and b and
    // storing result in result matrix
    for(i=0; i<r1; ++i)
        for(j=0; j<c2; ++j)
            for(k=0; k<c1; ++k)
            {
                result[i][j]+=a[i][k]*b[k][j];
            }

    // Displaying the result
    printf("\nOutput Matrix:\n");
    for(i=0; i<r1; ++i)
        for(j=0; j<c2; ++j)
        {
            printf("%d  ", result[i][j]);
            if(j == c2-1)
                printf("\n\n");
        }
    return 0;
}

Output

Enter rows and column for first matrix: 3
2
Enter rows and column for second matrix: 3
2
Error! column of first matrix not equal to row of second.

Enter rows and column for first matrix: 2
3
Enter rows and column for second matrix: 3
2

Enter elements of matrix 1:
Enter elements a11: 3
Enter elements a12: -2
Enter elements a13: 5
Enter elements a21: 3
Enter elements a22: 0
Enter elements a23: 4

Enter elements of matrix 2:
Enter elements b11: 2
Enter elements b12: 3
Enter elements b21: -9
Enter elements b22: 0
Enter elements b31: 0
Enter elements b32: 4

Output Matrix:
24  29

6  25

It is better to solve this program by passing it to a function. Visit this page to learn how you can multiplying matrices by passing arrays to a function.

Check out these related examples:

• C Program to Multiply two Matrices by Passing Matrix to a Function
• C Program to Add Two Matrix Using Multi-dimensional Arrays
• C Program to Find Transpose of a Matrix