How to Return Multiple Values From a Function in C Using Pointers

In this example, we will learn how you can get two values from a function in C using pointers.

For this example, we're making a function of quadratic formula to return multiple values because the quadratic formula has two significant one positive and one negative.

In function, we can only get one value in the main method with the return, so for the second value we will use a pointer

How to Get Multiple Values From a Function Using Pointers

	#include<stdio.h>
	#include<math.h>
	// quadratic formula function
	float QE(float a,float b,float c,float *n) // n is a pointer
	{
	// Creating Quadratic Formula
	float x = - b;
	float y = sqrt( pow ( b, 2.0) - (4 * a * c) );
	float z = 2 * a;
	// quadratic formula with positive sign
	float a1 = ( ( x + y ) / z) ;
	//quadratic formula with negative sign
	float a2 = ( ( x - y ) / z) ;
	// storing one answer in pointer
	*n = a2;
	return a1;
	}
	// start of main method
	void main ()
	{
	// decleration of variables
	float a,b,c, result,n;
	printf("Enter the value of a");
	scanf("%f",&a);
	printf("Enter the value of b");
	scanf("%f",&b);
	printf("Enter the value of c");
	scanf("%f",&c);
	// calling function
	result = QE(a, b, c, &n);
	// output the returned value
	printf("Formula with positive sign %f \n",result);
	printf("Formula with negative sign %f \n", n); // n variable is getting the value from pointer from function
	}
	// end of main method

view raw multiple-value-func.c hosted with ❤ by GitHub