c - How to fix "return value ignored: 'scanf'" code C6031 in visual studio

Question

I am brand new to coding C (and coding in general) so I have been practicing with some random programs. This one is supposed to determine the cost of a transit ticket (Translink Vancouver prices) based on the user's age and the desired number of "zones" (how far they would like to go). I have compiled it successfully but for some reason which I can not figure out, the scanf functions are being ignored. How do I fix this? Please keep in mind I have only been coding for a few days. Thanks!

int main(void) {

int zones;
int age;
double price = 0.00;

printf("Welcome to TransLink cost calculator!

");
printf("Please enter the desired number of zones (1, 2, or 3) you wish to travel: ");
scanf("%d", &zones);

if (zones < 1) {
    printf("Invalid entry
");
    price = 0.00;
}

else if (zones > 3) {
    printf("Invalid entry
");
    price = 0.00;
}

else if (zones == 1) {

    printf("Please enter your age: ");
    scanf("%d", &age);

    if (age < 0.00) {
        printf("Invalid Aage");
    }
    else if (age < 5) {
        price = 1.95;
    }
    else if (age >= 5) {
        price = 3.00;
    }
}

else if (zones == 2) {

    printf("Please enter your age: ");
    scanf("%d", &age);

    if (age < 0) {
        printf("Invalid Aage");
    }
    else if (age < 5) {
        price = 2.95;
    }
    else if (age >= 5) {
        price = 4.25;
    }
}

else if (zones == 3) {

    printf("Please enter your age: ");
    scanf("%d", &age);

    if (age < 0) {
        printf("Invalid Aage");
    }
    else if (age < 5) {
        price = 3.95;
    }
    else if (age >= 5) {
        price = 4.75;
    }
}

printf("The price of your ticket is: $%.2f + tax
", price);

system("PAUSE");
return 0;
}

Answer 1

A bit too much here to put in a comment.

I use a version of Visual C but it never complains about the return value from scanf not being used. What it does is to complain that scanf is unsafe and deprecated, when it isn't.

MS thinks I should be using its own "safer" version scanf_s which is even tricker to use and IMO no safer at all – because it is not a like-for-like replacement but takes different arguments, and so it is easy to make mistakes in using it.

One consequent problem is the compiler issues a warning for every use of scanf (and some other functions) which obscures other warnings. I deal with it as advised by adding a #define before the first library header inclusion.

#define _CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS

#include <stdio.h>

There are other matters which MS warns about too, and I actually place three #defines at the start of each file:

#define _CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS
#define _CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE  
#define _CRT_NONSTDC_NO_DEPRECATE

#include <stdio.h>

And now the relevant warnings are easy to see.