Matrix - return and pass as parameter c++ - c++

Question

I'm trying to use clear functions to do a matrix multiplication with random generated values. Therefore I'm hoping to use a function(mat_def) to generate the matrices and another function(mat_mul) to multiply them when the matrices are sent as parameters.
#include <iostream>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>
using namespace std;
double mat_def(int n) //how to return the matrix
{
double a[n][n];
double f;
for(int i=0; i<n; i++)
{
for(int j=0; j<n; j++)
{
f= rand();
cout<<f ;
a[i][j]=f;
}
}
return 0;
}
double mat_mul( int n, double a[n][n], double b[n][n]) //how to send matrix as parameter
{
return 0;
}
int main()
{
/* initialize random seed: */
srand (time(NULL));
mat_def(10);
}

Answer 1

Here's a nice, standard C++ Matrix template for you.
Matrix.h
#include <vector>
class Matrix
{
class InnerM
{
private:
int ydim;
double* values;
public:
InnerM(int y) : ydim(y)
{
values = new double[y];
}
double& operator[](int y)
{
return values[y];
}
};
private:
int xdim;
int ydim;
std::vector<InnerM> inner;
public:
Matrix(int x, int y) : xdim(x), ydim(y), inner(xdim, InnerM(ydim))
{
}
InnerM& operator[](int x)
{
return inner[x];
}
};
All the memory leaks are there for you but you get the idea. From here you can handle the multiplication by overiding ::operator*() in the Matrix class.

Answer 2

I assume your problem is to define 2-D array and then pass it to mat_mul function to multiply the matrices. And the rest will be quite simple.
Defining the 2-D array(considering memory needs are known at run time):
int rows,cols;
cin >> rows;
cin >> cols;
int **arr = new int*[rows]; // rows X cols 2D-array
for(int i = 0; i < rows; ++i) {
arr[i] = new int[cols];
}
You can define another 2-D array exactly the same way with required rows and column.
now, Passing the 2-D array to function:
void mat_mul(int **arr1, int **arr2, int m, int n, int p, int q){
//define a 2-D array to store the result
//do the multiplication operation
//you could store the result in one of the two arrays
//so that you don't have to return it
//or else the return type should be modified to return the 2-D array
}
example:
void display(int **arr, int row, int col){
for (int i=0; i<row; i++){
for(int j=0;j<col; j++){
cout << arr[i][j] << '\t';
}
cout << endl;
}
}
Delete the memory if not required anymore with the following syntax:
for(int i=0; i<rows; i++){
delete[] array[i];
}
delete[] array;
hope this will be sufficient to get your work done!
there is already an answer on how to return a 2-D array on SO. Check the link below.
https://stackoverflow.com/a/8618617/8038009

Answer 3

Returning the raw allocation is a sucker bet. You need to manage all of the memory allocated yourself and pass it around with the matrix size parameters.
Why suffer? Use a matrix class
template<class Type>
class Matrix{
int rows;
int cols;
std::vector<type> data;
public:
Matrix(int row, int col):rows(row), cols(col), data(rows*cols)
{
// does nothing. All of the heavy lifting was in the initializer
}
// std::vector eliminates the need for destructor, assignment operators, and copy
//and move constructors.
//add a convenience method for easy access to the vector
type & operator()(size_t row, size_t col)
{
return data[row*cols+col];
}
type operator()(size_t row, size_t col) const
{
return data[row*cols+col];
}
};
Usage would be
Matrix<double> mat_mul(const Matrix<double> &a, const Matrix<double> &b)
{
Matrix<double> result;
// do multiplication
return result;
}
int main()
{
/* initialize random seed: */
srand (time(NULL));
Matrix<double> matA(10, 10);
matA(0,0) = 3.14; // sample assignment
matA(9,9) = 2.78;
double x = matA(0,0) * matA(9,9)
Matrix<double> matB(10, 10);
Matrix<double> matC = mat_mul(matA, matB) ;
}
More functionality, such as construction from an initializer list, can be added to the class to make your life easier. You can also specify an operator * overload for Matrix and use that in place of mat_mul if you chose. Read Operator overloading for more on that option.