Introduction:

Calculating the average of a set of numbers is a fundamental task in programming, and it often arises in various applications. In this blog, we will delve into the world of C# and explore multiple methods to calculate the average of numbers. We will provide step-by-step explanations and code samples for each method, along with their corresponding outputs. By the end of this blog, you will have a thorough understanding of how to compute averages in C#, allowing you to tackle similar problems with confidence.

Method 1: Using a Loop

To start, we can use a loop to iterate through the numbers and accumulate their sum. By dividing the sum by the total count, we can obtain the average.

int[] numbers = { 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 };
int sum = 0;

for (int i = 0; i < numbers.Length; i++)
{
    sum += numbers[i];
}

double average = (double)sum / numbers.Length;
Console.WriteLine("Average: " + average);

Output:

Average: 30

In this method, we create an array called numbers containing the set of numbers for which we want to calculate the average. We initialize a variable sum to store the sum of all the numbers. Then, we use a for loop to iterate through each element of the array and add it to the sum variable. After the loop, we divide the sum by the length of the numbers array to calculate the average. Finally, we print the average to the console.

Method 2: Using LINQ

C# provides the Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) library, which offers a concise and expressive way to perform various operations on collections. Calculating the average of numbers is no exception.

int[] numbers = { 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 };
double average = numbers.Average();
Console.WriteLine("Average: " + average);

Output:

Average: 30

In this method, we first declare an array numbers containing the set of numbers. By using the Average() extension method from the LINQ library on the numbers array, we directly calculate the average without the need for explicit loops or accumulation. Finally, we print the average to the console.

Method 3: Using the Enumerable.Sum() Method

Apart from using LINQ's Average() method, we can also make use of the Sum() method from the System.Linq namespace in combination with the Count() method to compute the average.

int[] numbers = { 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 };
int sum = numbers.Sum();
double average = (double)sum / numbers.Count();
Console.WriteLine("Average: " + average);

Output:

Average: 30

In this method, we begin by defining an array numbers containing the set of numbers. We calculate the sum of the numbers array using the Sum() method from LINQ. To find the average, we divide the sum by the count of elements in the numbers array, which is obtained using the Count() method. Finally, we print the average to the console.

Conclusion:

In this blog, we explored various methods to calculate the average of numbers in C#. We started with a loop-based approach, where we iterated through the numbers and accumulated their sum. Then, we explored the use of LINQ's Average() method, which offers a concise way to calculate the average. Lastly, we leveraged the Sum() and Count() methods to compute the average. Each method showcased different approaches to solve the problem, allowing you to choose the most suitable one based on your specific requirements.