How to Swap Three Numbers in C and Python: Methods and Examples

In both C and Python, swapping values between variables can be accomplished in various ways. This article will explore how to swap three numbers in these programming languages and provide detailed examples for both C and Python.

C Swap Three Numbers Using a Temporary Variable

In C, swapping three numbers can be achieved using a temporary variable. This method is straightforward and widely understood. Here's a simple example:

include int main() {    int a, b, c;    // Input three numbers    std::cout Enter three numbers: 
;    std::cin  a  b  c;    std::cout Initial values: a    a  , b    b  , c    c  
;    // Swapping the numbers    int temp  a; // Store the value of a in a temporary variable    a  b;        // Assign the value of b to a    b  c;        // Assign the value of c to b    c  temp;     // Assign the value of the temporary variable to c    std::cout Swapped values: a    a  , b    b  , c    c  
;    return 0;}

In this example:

Input: The program prompts the user to enter three numbers. Swapping: The value of a is stored in the temporary variable temp. Assigning: The value of b is assigned to a, the value of c is assigned to b, and finally, the value stored in temp (the original value of a) is assigned to c. Output: The program displays the values of a, b, and c before and after the swap.

Alternative Method Using Tuples in C11 and Later

If you are using C11 or later, you can use the std::tuple or std::swap for a more elegant approach:

include iostreaminclude tupleint main() {    int a, b, c;    // Input three numbers    std::cout Enter three numbers: 
;    std::cin  a  b  c;    std::cout Initial values: a    a  , b    b  , c    c  
;    // Swapping using std::tie    std::tie(a, b, c)  std::make_tuple(b, c, a);    std::cout Swapped values: a    a  , b    b  , c    c  
;    return 0;}

This approach simplifies the swapping process by using std::tie and std::make_tuple.

Swap Three Numbers in Python

In Python, swapping three numbers is even more straightforward due to its ability to handle tuples:

abc  map(int, input(Enter three numbers separated by spaces: ).split())print(Initial values:    , .join(map(str, abc)))abc  bcaprint(After swapping:    , .join(map(str, abc)))

Note that in Python, the tuple unpacking feature allows for swapping values directly in a concise manner.

Conclusion

The choice of method for swapping three numbers can depend on readability, personal preference, and the specific requirements of the task at hand. In C, using a temporary variable is a traditional and widely understood approach, while using tuples in C11 and later provides a more elegant solution. In Python, tuple unpacking offers a simple and efficient way to achieve the same result.