Calculate Standard Deviation & More: Keyboard Input Program without Arrays

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on creating a program to calculate statistical metrics such as the largest, smallest, average, standard deviation, and sum of numbers entered via keyboard input, concluding with a sentinel value. The consensus is that using arrays simplifies the process significantly, especially when handling large datasets, as it avoids the cumbersome task of defining numerous individual variables. While alternative methods exist, they may lead to inaccuracies due to the limitations of floating-point precision in programming languages like C.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic programming concepts
  • Familiarity with statistical calculations, including standard deviation
  • Knowledge of loops in programming (for and while loops)
  • Experience with data types in C, specifically doubles and floats
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to implement arrays in C for statistical calculations
  • Research the implications of floating-point precision in programming
  • Explore alternative data structures for handling dynamic input sizes
  • Study the mathematical derivation of the standard deviation formula
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Programmers, data analysts, and students learning statistical programming who need to efficiently handle and analyze numerical input without excessive manual variable management.

blu3jam
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Write a program to find and display the Largest, Smallest, Average, standard deviation and the Sum of all numbers entered from the keyboard.The data entry should end with a Sentinel Value. After finishing ask if the user wants to continue entering new set of numbers or not.

hw1.ht1.gif
, where X indicates average
My question is can we write this program without using arrays ? Does anybody have a suggestion ?
 
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Not really. It will make your life easier to use arrays. It will help if there is a known number of samples, perhaps you can ask the user before you create the array and then once you know the value, create it with that many locations.

Also, it's A TON easier to go through hundreds or even thousands of x values with an array (using either a for or while loop). Imagine wanting to store 4,000 x values. That means you need 4,000 manually defined variables. Manually, as in you type x_1, x_2, x_3, ..., x_3999, x_4000.

Use an array. Use loops. This will make your life easier.
 
no way you should be doing any statistical programming without using arrays/lists/something like that.
 
I figured it out now ,instead of saving inputs separately by using arrays, I can convert deviation formula another form

52af1f8f6cb9c93b9ce829b3ac57af8f.png

9c3cd5442f1745f7f7ee2cff3174a6e0.png


Now , it's easy to calculate. Thanks
 
Easy to calculate, but potentially inaccurate. Computers don't have infinite precision. What you did works mathematically but loses accuracy when performed using numbers as typically represented on computers (e.g., doubles or floats in the C language).
 

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