C++ Program to Multiply two Matrices by Passing Matrix to Function

To understand this example, you should have the knowledge of the following C++ programming topics:


This program asks user to enter the size of the matrix (rows and columns).

Then, it asks the user to enter the elements of two matrices and finally it multiplies two matrix and displays the result.

To perform this task three functions are made:

  1. To take matrix elements from user
  2. To multiply two matrix
  3. To display the resultant matrix after multiplication

Example: Multiply Matrix by Passing it to a Function

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

void enterData(int firstMatrix[][10], int secondMatrix[][10], int rowFirst, int columnFirst, int rowSecond, int columnSecond);
void multiplyMatrices(int firstMatrix[][10], int secondMatrix[][10], int multResult[][10], int rowFirst, int columnFirst, int rowSecond, int columnSecond);
void display(int mult[][10], int rowFirst, int columnSecond);

int main()
{
	int firstMatrix[10][10], secondMatrix[10][10], mult[10][10], rowFirst, columnFirst, rowSecond, columnSecond, i, j, k;

	cout << "Enter rows and column for first matrix: ";
	cin >> rowFirst >> columnFirst;

	cout << "Enter rows and column for second matrix: ";
	cin >> rowSecond >> columnSecond;

	// If colum of first matrix in not equal to row of second matrix, asking user to enter the size of matrix again.
	while (columnFirst != rowSecond)
	{
		cout << "Error! column of first matrix not equal to row of second." << endl;
		cout << "Enter rows and column for first matrix: ";
		cin >> rowFirst >> columnFirst;
		cout << "Enter rows and column for second matrix: ";
		cin >> rowSecond >> columnSecond;
	}

	// Function to take matrices data
        enterData(firstMatrix, secondMatrix, rowFirst, columnFirst, rowSecond, columnSecond);

        // Function to multiply two matrices.
        multiplyMatrices(firstMatrix, secondMatrix, mult, rowFirst, columnFirst, rowSecond, columnSecond);

        // Function to display resultant matrix after multiplication.
        display(mult, rowFirst, columnSecond);

	return 0;
}

void enterData(int firstMatrix[][10], int secondMatrix[][10], int rowFirst, int columnFirst, int rowSecond, int columnSecond)
{
	int i, j;
	cout << endl << "Enter elements of matrix 1:" << endl;
	for(i = 0; i < rowFirst; ++i)
	{
		for(j = 0; j < columnFirst; ++j)
		{
			cout << "Enter elements a"<< i + 1 << j + 1 << ": ";
			cin >> firstMatrix[i][j];
		}
	}

	cout << endl << "Enter elements of matrix 2:" << endl;
	for(i = 0; i < rowSecond; ++i)
	{
		for(j = 0; j < columnSecond; ++j)
		{
			cout << "Enter elements b" << i + 1 << j + 1 << ": ";
			cin >> secondMatrix[i][j];
		}
	}
}

void multiplyMatrices(int firstMatrix[][10], int secondMatrix[][10], int mult[][10], int rowFirst, int columnFirst, int rowSecond, int columnSecond)
{
	int i, j, k;

	// Initializing elements of matrix mult to 0.
	for(i = 0; i < rowFirst; ++i)
	{
		for(j = 0; j < columnSecond; ++j)
		{
			mult[i][j] = 0;
		}
	}

	// Multiplying matrix firstMatrix and secondMatrix and storing in array mult.
	for(i = 0; i < rowFirst; ++i)
	{
		for(j = 0; j < columnSecond; ++j)
		{
			for(k=0; k<columnFirst; ++k)
			{
				mult[i][j] += firstMatrix[i][k] * secondMatrix[k][j];
			}
		}
	}
}

void display(int mult[][10], int rowFirst, int columnSecond)
{
	int i, j;

	cout << "Output Matrix:" << endl;
	for(i = 0; i < rowFirst; ++i)
	{
		for(j = 0; j < columnSecond; ++j)
		{
			cout << mult[i][j] << " ";
			if(j == columnSecond - 1)
				cout << endl << endl;
		}
	}
}

Output

Enter rows and column for first matrix: 3
2
Enter rows and column for second matrix: 3
2
Error! column of first matrix not equal to row of second.

Enter rows and column for first matrix: 2
3
Enter rows and column for second matrix: 3
2

Enter elements of matrix 1:
Enter elements a11: 3
Enter elements a12: -2
Enter elements a13: 5
Enter elements a21: 3
Enter elements a22: 0
Enter elements a23: 4

Enter elements of matrix 2:
Enter elements b11: 2
Enter elements b12: 3
Enter elements b21: -9
Enter elements b22: 0
Enter elements b31: 0
Enter elements b32: 4

Output Matrix:
24 29

6  25
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