Using macro results in incorrect output when used as part of a larger math expression - why does this happen?

Question

This is a normal C routine program which i found out in some question bank. It is shown below:

#define CUBE(p) p*p*p

main()
{
    int k;
    k = 27 / CUBE(3         


        

Answer 1

     #define CUBE(p) p*p*p
     main()
     {
        int k;
        k=27/CUBE(3);
        printf("%d",k);

     }

As per my understanding and knowledge the value of K should be 1 as CUBE(3) would be replaced by 3*3*3 during preprocessing

YES

and after the subsequent compilation it would be giving the value of 1,but instead it has shown the value of 81 which has made me curious to know how it happenned.

NO,

k= 27/3*3*3 

 =(((27/3)*3)*3) (The precedence of `*` and `/` are same but the associativity is from left to right)
 =((9*3)*3) =81

Replace #define CUBE(p) p*p*p with #define CUBE(p) ((p)*(p)*(p))