n-dimensional c++ array. How`s that possible?

Question

I became confused when GCC allowed me to do this:

int t[10][10][10][10][10];

I realize int i[N][N] is an NxN matrix where the first N means the row, and the second means the column. Also, the third N in int i[N][N][N] means depth, giving us a 3d dimensional array.

I do not understand what int i[N][N][N][N] and beyond mean.

The fourth dimension is time, but that does not apply here.

So, could this mean that when I get to the third one, I could let the logic go away?

Answer 1

I find a library analogy very useful to visualizing arrays of multiple dimensions:

• 8-dimensional array is a library
• 7-dimensional array is a floor in a library
• 6-dimensional array is a room on a floor in a library
• 5-dimensional array is a bookcase in a room on a floor in a library
• 4-dimensional array is a shelf in a bookcase in a room on a floor in a library
• 3-dimensional array is a book on a shelf in a bookcase in a room on a floor in a library
• 2-dimensional array is a page in a book on a shelf in a bookcase in a room on a floor in a library
• 1-dimensional array is a line on a page in a book on a shelf in a bookcase in a room on a floor in a library
• 0-dimensional array is a character in a line on a page in a book on a shelf in a bookcase in a room on a floor in a library

Answer 2

In the world of mathematics, the number of dimensions doesn't matter. It just eventually gets to a point at which one can no longer visualize it.