C Program to Print multiplication table using while loop

Last update on July 29 2025 12:58:19 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

11. Multiplication Table Using a While Loop

Write a C program that prompts the user to enter a positive integer. Use a while loop to print the multiplication table for that number up to 10.

Sample Solution:

C Code:

#include <stdio.h> // Include the standard input-output library for functions like printf.

int main() {  // Start the main function.
    int number;  // Declare an integer variable 'number' to store the user input.

    // Prompt the user to enter a positive integer.
    printf("Input a positive integer: ");
    scanf("%d", &number);  // Read the user input and store it in the variable 'number'.

    // Check if the entered number is positive.
    if (number <= 0) {
        printf("Error: Please enter a positive integer.\n");  // Print an error message.
        return 1;  // Exit the program with an error code.
    }

    int i = 1;  // Initialize a loop counter variable 'i' to 1.

    // Start a while loop to print the multiplication table up to 10.
    while (i <= 10) {
        // Print the multiplication table entry (number * i).
        printf("%d x %d = %d\n", number, i, number * i);
        
        i++;  // Increment the loop counter for the next iteration.
    }

    return 0;  // Indicate successful program execution.
}

Sample Output:

Input a positive integer: 4
4 x 1 = 4
4 x 2 = 8
4 x 3 = 12
4 x 4 = 16
4 x 5 = 20
4 x 6 = 24
4 x 7 = 28
4 x 8 = 32
4 x 9 = 36
4 x 10 = 40

Input a positive integer: -5
Error: Please enter a positive integer.

Explanation:

Here are key parts of the above code step by step:

#include <stdio.h>: This line includes the standard input-output library for functions like "printf()".
int main() {: The main function is the starting point of the program.
int number;: Declares an integer variable 'number' to store the user input.
printf("Enter a positive integer: ");: Prompts the user to enter a positive integer.
scanf("%d", &number);: Reads the user input as an integer and stores it in the 'number' variable.
if (number <= 0) { ... }: Checks if the entered number is not positive. If true, prints an error message and exits the program.
int i = 1;: Initializes a loop counter variable 'i' to 1.
while (i <= 10) { ... }: Starts a while loop that continues until 'i' is greater than 10.
printf("%d x %d = %d\n", number, i, number * i);: Prints the multiplication table entry for the current 'i'.
i++;: Increments the loop counter 'i' for the next iteration.
return 0;: Indicates successful program execution.
}: Closes the main function.

Flowchart:

For more Practice: Solve these Related Problems:

Write a C program to print the multiplication table for a given positive integer using a while loop with formatted spacing.
Write a C program to generate and display the multiplication table of a number using a while loop in both ascending and descending order.
Write a C program to print the multiplication table for a given number up to 10 using a while loop and then calculate the sum of all table entries.
Write a C program to generate the multiplication table for a user-entered number using a while loop with input validation to ensure a positive integer.

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