Question

So I have a generic Matrix class that I created which has the following operator overload:

class Matrix
{
public:
    Matrix() {}
    Matrix(int i, int j, int k) {}
    Matrix operator*(const Matrix &right)
    {
    }
};

I also have a Matrix2 class that inherits from my Matrix class.

class Matrix2 : public Matrix
{
};

When I try to multiply two Matrix2 objects together I get a compiler error stating:

‘there is no operator found which takes a left hand operand of type Matrix2 (or there is no accessible conversion)’

Why is this and how can I properly implement operator overloads with inheritance?

EDIT:

As pointed out my problem was partially because of the “most vexing parse”. Now my problem, I believe, strictly has to do with the operator overload and inheritance.

I can multiply two Matrix objects just fine, but I cannot multiply two Matrix2 objects together.

Matrix2 i;
Matrix2 m;
Matrix result = m * i;

The error message:

error C2678: binary '*' : no operator found which takes a left-hand operand of type 'Matrix2' (or there is no acceptable conversion).

Answer 1

You are biting the Most Vexing Parse. It is a syntactic error leading to the declaration of functions rather than objects.