Calculates the Average Score of Given Number of Scores in C

Question

I have started with C and I made this code and as the title suggests this program can calculate the average score of a given number of scores. Now my major concern is, is it more efficient to get the number of scores as a Command Line Argument or is the current approach better incase if sometime in the future someone designs a Interactive Front-End for it?

Also I am using the cs50 library I am not sure if it is allowed here please tell me if it's not so I'll keep that in mind in the future.

#include <cs50.h>
#include <stdio.h>
float average(int length, int array[]);

int main(void)

{
    int i, j;
    printf("This Program will Help you Compute the Average Score \n");         //Welcome Message
    int Total = get_int("How Many Scores do you wish to Use: ");               //Asks User for How Many Scores
    int scores[Total];                                                         //Stores Scores in an Array
    for (i=0; i < Total; i++)                                                  //A Loop to keep Asking for Scores
    {
        scores[i]=get_int("Enter Score %d \n", i+1);                           //i+1 is used as it would be better to start asking from Score 1 so that it avoids confusion
    }
    printf("The Average score is %f", average(Total, scores));
}

float average(int length, int array[])
  {  int sum = 0;
    for (int j=0; j < length; j++)
    {
        sum += array[j];
    }
    return sum/(float)length;
  }

Answer 1

Reduce the number of loops

The most time-consuming part of your program is to loop through the array. Notice that you have done this twice, why can't you keep a track of the total sum while taking the input?

#include <stdio.h>  

float average(int sum,int number);

int main(void)
{
    int number_of_integers,number,sum = 0;
    printf("Enter the number of integers: ");
    scanf("%d",&number_of_integers);
    for(int i = 0;i < number_of_integers;i++)
    {
        printf("Enter: ");
        scanf("%d",&number);
        sum+=number;
    }
    printf("Average = %d",average(sum,number_of_integers));
}

float average(int sum, int number)
{
    return sum/(float)number;
}

This reduces the number of loops from 2 into 1. And completely removes the need of having an array of integers. Making your program both memory efficient and fast.

Answer 2

... major concern is, is it more efficient to get the number of scores as a Command Line Argument or is the current approach better in case if sometime in the future someone designs a Interactive Front-End for it?

"more efficient" needs to focus on order of complexity, else one wastes valuable coding effort in premature optimizations. OP's code run-time is O(n). It does not get better in run-time using using 1 loop or 2.

current approach better incase if sometime in the future someone designs a Interactive Front-End for it?

Current is better.

Code architecture designed for growth is a good idea. A good strategy is to separate input, processing and output.

In OP's small code, loops can be combined (saves memory), yet for growth and real larger code, and portability, maintain separations.

// Pseudo code
main()
  setup()
  input()
  process_data()
  output()
  cleanup()

Set aside small linear time improvement concerns and look to proper full range functionality

• Below code can readily overflow sum += array[j].
• float in C is rarely the preferred type. Use double and reduce precision loss.
• Array sizing best done with size_t.
• Consider future trends with function signatures (which OP followed with length 1st).
• Use const when referenced data is not changed. Allows wider usage and conveys intent.
• Consider alternatives to casting.
• Trust your compiler to make at least basic optimizations. Code for clarity.

OP's

float average(int length, int array[]) {  // length more than INT_MAX?
  int sum = 0;
  for (int j=0; j < length; j++) {
    sum += array[j];  // Overflow ?
  }
  return sum/(float)length; // low precision FP
}

Alternative

double average(size_t length, const int array[]) {
  long long sum = 0;  // or double sum = 0.0 is very large input expected.
  for (size_t j=0; j < length; j++) {
    sum += array[j];
  }
  double avg = sum;
  return avg/length;
}

Minor: Output improvements

"%f" is weak. Consider "%g". It is more informative when the value is smaller and not so noisy when the value is large.

No need for spaces before "\n". Such spaces are surprising to find in output. Avoids surprising effects.

// Enter Score %d \n"
Enter Score %d\n"