Question

My code thus far:

#include <stdio.h>

main() 
{
    float p_Asphalt = 5.2, p_Concrete = 4.93, p_Stones = 2.21;
    float c_Concrete = 8.88; 
    float d_Length =, d_Width;
    char typeOfPaving, c_Curbing;
    float totalCost = 0;
    float GST = 1.13, PST = 1.10;

    printf("asphalt company\n\n");
    printf("Length of Driveway: ");
        scanf("%f", &d_Length);
    printf("Width of Driveway: ");
        scanf("%f", &d_Width);
    printf("\nType of Paving:\n");
    printf(" 'A' for asphalt paving\n");
    printf(" 'C' for concrete paving\n");
    printf(" 'S' for paving stones\n\n");
    printf("Select (A,C,S): ");
        scanf("%c%c", &typeOfPaving);
    printf("%c", typeOfPaving);

    if (typeOfPaving == "A") 
    {
        totalCost = p_Asphalt * (d_Length * d_Width);
        printf("Concrete curbing? [y/n]: ");

            scanf("%c%c", c_Curbing);

            if (c_Curbing == 'y') { 
                totalCost = totalCost + (d_Length * c_Concrete);
            }
            else {
                totalCost = totalCost * GST;
                printf("Quoted Price of Paving: %f\n", totalCost);
            }
    } 
    else if (typeOfPaving == "C") 
    {
        totalCost = p_Concrete * (d_Length * d_Width);
        printf("Quoted Price of Paving: %f\n", totalCost);
    } 
    else if (typeOfPaving == "S") 
    {
        totalCost = p_Stones * (d_Length * d_Width);
        printf("Quoted Price of Paving: %f\n", totalCost);
    }
}

For some reason, when I compile, I get the following output:

:~/> cc assignment1.c ^C
:~/>
:~/> a.out
asphalt company

Length of Driveway: 123
Width of Driveway: 123

Type of Paving:
 'A' for asphalt paving
 'C' for concrete paving
 'S' for paving stones

Select (A,C,S): A

:~/>

Nothing happens. On line 22 where I have scanf("%c%c", &typeOfPaving);, I use %c%c because my professor told me that the first %c stores the new line character after inputting data into the variable d_Width on line 16: scanf("%f", &d_Width);. Problem I see now is that (I think?) that char typeOfPaving stores \nA? not just A so my if statements won’t work? Is that correct?

Can somebody please help me, not sure what to do lol, kind of frustrating

Answer 1

You’ve done well by forming a hypothesis that explains why your program is misbehaving. The next important step is figuring out a test that will confirm or refute the hypothesis. That is, if you are claiming that typeOfPaving stores \nA, how can you test if this is the case?

If it is the case, what can you do to correct the problem? If it is not the case, what is your next hypothesis?

You’ll find that practising this will lead you further than seeking an exact answer from someone.