What is the difference between /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libc.so.6, /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 and /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so?

Question

I installed Matlab in my Linux Mint 14 Nadia (a uname -a shows: Linux Ideapad-Z570 3.5.0-17-generic #28-Ubuntu SMP Tue Oct 9 19:31:23 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Answer 1

The symlink you created will have no effect whatsoever on GCC. The 32-bit version is only used when you compile using the -m32 GCC flag. GCC will not attempt to generate 32-bit binaries unless you specifically tell it to (by using that flag.)