Default type parameter error in template code

Question

1)template <class T = int, class U = double> //compiles

2)template <class T, class U =double> //compiles

3)template <class T = int, class U> //fails

Why does 1 and 2 compile whereas 3 does not?

Answer 1

For the same reason why:

void f(int = 0, int);

fails.

There is no way to use 3rd version default parameter:

template<class T = int, class U> class B { ... };

B<, short> var; // ??? no such syntax

Answer 2

(3) is ill-formed because

C++03 [Section 14.1/11] says

If a template-parameter has a default template-argument, all subsequent template-parameters shall have a default template-argument supplied.