C hypot() Function

Posted in C Tutorial

Updated on Jan 13, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 260 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

In C programming, the hypot() function is a part of the <math.h> library, and it is used to calculate the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle.

The hypotenuse is the side opposite the right angle and is calculated using the lengths of the other two sides.

In this tutorial, we'll explore the usage and functionality of the hypot() function in C.

💡 Syntax

The syntax for the hypot() function is as follows:

Syntax

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double hypot(double x, double y);

x: The length of one side of the right-angled triangle.
y: The length of the other side of the right-angled triangle.

📄 Example

Let's dive into an example to illustrate how the hypot() function works.

hypot.c

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#include <stdio.h>
#include <math.h>

int main() {
  double side1 = 3.0;
  double side2 = 4.0;

  // Calculate the hypotenuse
  double hypotenuse = hypot(side1, side2);

  // Output the result
  printf("The hypotenuse is: %f\n", hypotenuse);

  return 0;
}

💻 Output

Output

The hypotenuse is: 5.000000

🧠 How the Program Works

In this example, the hypot() function is used to calculate the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle with sides of length 3.0 and 4.0.

↩️ Return Value

The hypot() function returns the calculated length of the hypotenuse as a double value.

📚 Common Use Cases

The primary use case of the hypot() function is in scenarios where you have the lengths of two sides of a right-angled triangle, and you need to find the length of the hypotenuse. This is common in geometry and trigonometry calculations.

📝 Notes

The hypot() function is designed to avoid overflow and underflow for large or small input values.
It is a more robust alternative to manually calculating the hypotenuse using the Pythagorean theorem to prevent numerical instability in certain cases.

🎢 Optimization

The hypot() function is generally optimized for accuracy and performance. If optimization is a critical concern, consider checking the specific compiler's documentation for details on the implementation.

🎉 Conclusion

The hypot() function in C is a valuable tool for calculating the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle. It simplifies the process of working with geometric calculations and ensures accurate results.

Feel free to experiment with different side lengths and explore the behavior of the hypot() function in various scenarios. Happy coding!