C++ multiplying matrices using dynamically allocated memory - c++

Question

I am trying to write a function in C++ that multiplies two matrices A, B which have been dynamically allocated. I am currently trying to get the multiplication code working, then I will attempt to turn it into a function. Right now I am getting an error of sorts; "segmentation fault (core dumped)". I have narrowed it down to the multiplication part of my code but I have no idea what is wrong with it. Can someone help me please? My code is shown below.
#include <iostream>
#include <cassert>
int main()
{
int rowsA = 5; // number of rows
int colsA= 3; // number of coloumns
// dynamically allocating A
double** A;
A = new double* [rowsA];
A[0] = new double [rowsA*colsA];
for (int i = 1; i < rowsA; i++)
{
A[i] = A[i-1] + colsA;
}
// Storing elements of matrix A
for(int i = 0; i < rowsA; ++i)
{
for(int j = 0; j < colsA; ++j)
{
std::cout << "Enter element A" << i + 1 << j + 1 << " : ";
std::cin >> A[i][j];
}
}
int rowsB = 3; // number of rows
int colsB = 5; // number of coloumns
// dynamically allocating B
double** B;
B = new double* [rowsB];
B[0] = new double [rowsB*colsB];
for (int i = 1; i < rowsB; i++)
{
B[i] = B[i-1] + colsB;
}
// Storing elements of matrix B
for(int i = 0; i < rowsB; ++i)
{
for(int j = 0; j < colsB; ++j)
{
std::cout << "Enter element B" << i + 1 << j + 1 << " : ";
std::cin >> B[i][j];
}
}
// checking matrix multiplication qualification
assert(colsA == rowsB);
// dynamically allocating C
double** C;
C = new double* [rowsA];
C[0] = new double [rowsA*colsB];
for (int i = 1; i < rowsA; i++)
{
C[i] = C[i-1] + colsB;
}
// Initializing elements of matrix C to 0
for(int i = 0; i < rowsA; ++i)
{
for(int j = 0; j < colsB; ++j)
{
C[i][j]=0;
}
}
// multiplication
for(int i = 0; i < rowsA; ++i)
{
for(int j = 0; j < colsB; ++j)
{
for(int k = 0; k < colsB; ++k)
{
C[i][j] += A[i][k] * B[k][j];
}
}
}
// Displaying the multiplication of matrices A, B
std::cout<< "Matrix C: " << std::endl;
for(int i = 0; i < rowsA; ++i)
{
for(int j = 0; j < colsB; ++j)
{
std::cout << " " << C[i][j];
if(j == colsB-1)
{
std::cout << std::endl;
}
}
}
// deallocation
delete[] C[0];
delete[] C;
delete[] B[0];
delete[] B;
delete[] A[0];
delete[] A;
}

Answer 1

First, you say you are allocating the matrix properly but I'm not seeing any proof of that. You are allocating an array of pointers and only initializing the first index.. A[0] for example. This is incorrect. You need to allocate EACH ROW.
You have:
double** A;
A = new double* [rowsA];
A[0] = new double [rowsA*colsA]; //Incorrect. You only allocated A[0].
You need to allocate A[0] through A[rowsA - 1]..
Next, your multiplication loop (the inner most loop) is incorrect. It should be:
Iterate ColsA for that inner loop.
You have:
for(int i = 0; i < rowsA; ++i)
{
for(int j = 0; j < colsB; ++j)
{
for(int k = 0; k < colsB; ++k) //ColsB is incorrect. Should be colsA..
{
C[i][j] += A[i][k] * B[k][j]; //Segfaults here due to bad iteration..
}
}
}
The following would be correct:
#include <iostream>
#include <cassert>
double** create_matrix(int rows, int cols)
{
double** mat = new double* [rows]; //Allocate rows.
for (int i = 0; i < rows; ++i)
{
mat[i] = new double[cols](); //Allocate each row and zero initialize..
}
return mat;
}
void destroy_matrix(double** &mat, int rows)
{
if (mat)
{
for (int i = 0; i < rows; ++i)
{
delete[] mat[i]; //delete each row..
}
delete[] mat; //delete the rows..
mat = nullptr;
}
}
int main()
{
int rowsA = 5; // number of rows
int colsA= 3; // number of coloumns
double** matA = create_matrix(rowsA, colsA);
int rowsB = 3; // number of rows
int colsB = 5; // number of coloumns
double** matB = create_matrix(rowsB, colsB);
//Checking matrix multiplication qualification
assert(colsA == rowsB);
double** matC = create_matrix(rowsA, colsB);
//Multiplication
for(int i = 0; i < rowsA; ++i)
{
for(int j = 0; j < colsB; ++j)
{
for(int k = 0; k < colsA; ++k) //ColsA..
{
matC[i][j] += matA[i][k] * matB[k][j];
}
}
}
//Clean up..
destroy_matrix(matA, rowsA);
destroy_matrix(matB, rowsB);
destroy_matrix(matC, rowsA);
}