Question

Write a program that sums the sequence of integers as well as the smallest in the sequence. Assume that the first integer read with scanf specifies the number of values remaining to be entered. For example the sequence entered:

Input: 5 100 350 400 550 678

Output: The sum of the sequence of integers is: 2078

Input: 5 40 67 9 13 98

Output: The smallest of the integers entered is: 9

This is a daily problem I am working on but by looking at this, Isnt 5 the smallest integer? I have no idea how to write this program. Appreciate any help

Answer 1

First thing, the 5 is not considered part of the list, it’s the count for the list. Hence it shouldn’t be included in the calculations.

Since this is homework, here’s the pseudo-code. Your job is to understand the pseudo-code first (run it through your head with sample inputs) then turn this into C code and try to get it compiling and running successfully (with those same sample inputs).

I would suggest the sample input of ‘2 7 3’ (two items, those being 7 and 3) as a good start point since it’s small and the sum will be 10, smallest 3.

If you’ve tried to do that for more than a day, then post your code into this question as an edit and we’ll see what we can do to help you out.

get a number into quantity set sum to zero loop varying index from 1 to quantity     get a number into value     add value to sum     if index is 1         set smallest to value     else         if value is less than smallest             set smallest to value         endif     endif endloop output 'The sum of the sequence of integers is: ', sum output 'The smallest of the integers entered is: ', smallest 

Stack Overflow seems to be divided into three camps, those that will just give you the code, those that will tell you to push off and do your own homework and those, like me, who would rather see you educated – by the time you hit the workforce, I hope to be retired so you won’t be competing with me :-).

And before anyone picks holes in my algorithm, this is for education. I’ve left at least one gotcha in it to help train the guy – there may be others and I will claim I put them there intentionally to test him :-).

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Update:

Robert, after your (very good) attempt which I’ve already commented on, this is how I’d modify your code to do the task (hand yours in of course, not mine). You can hopefully see how my comments modify the code to reach this solution:

#include <stdio.h> int main (int argCount, char *argVal[]) {     int i;              // General purpose counter.     int smallNum;       // Holds the smallest number.     int numSum;         // Holds the sum of all numbers.     int currentNum;     // Holds the current number.     int numCount;       // Holds the count of numbers.      // Get count of numbers and make sure it's in range 1 through 50.      printf ('How many numbers will be entered (max 50)? ');     scanf ('%d', &numCount);     if ((numCount < 1) || (numCount > 50)) {         printf ('Invalid count of %d.\n', numCount);         return 1;     }     printf('\nEnter %d numbers then press enter after each entry:\n',         numCount);      // Set initial sum to zero, numbers will be added to this.      numSum = 0;      // Loop, getting and processing all numbers.      for (i = 0; i < numCount; i++) {          // Get the number.          printf('%2d> ', i+1);         scanf('%d', &currentNum);          // Add the number to sum.          numSum += currentNum;          // First number entered is always lowest.          if (i == 0) {             smallNum = currentNum;         } else {             // Replace if current is smaller.              if (currentNum < smallNum) {                 smallNum = currentNum;             }         }     }      // Output results.      printf ('The sum of the numbers is: %d\n', numSum);     printf ('The smallest number is:    %d\n', smallNum);      return 0; } 

And here is the output from your sample data:

pax> ./qq How many numbers will be entered (max 50)? 5  Enter 5 numbers then press enter after each entry:  1> 100  2> 350  3> 400  4> 550  5> 678 The sum of the numbers is: 2078 The smallest number is:    100  pax> ./qq How many numbers will be entered (max 50)? 5  Enter 5 numbers then press enter after each entry:  1> 40  2> 67  3> 9  4> 13  5> 98 The sum of the numbers is: 227 The smallest number is:    9  pax> ./qq How many numbers will be entered (max 50)? 0 Invalid count of 0.  [fury]$ ./qq How many numbers will be entered (max 50)? 51 Invalid count of 51. 

By the way, make sure you always add comments to your code. Educators love that sort of stuff. So do developers that have to try to understand your code 10 years into the future.