Averaging 3 integers - c

Question

My assignment is to fix the code. I have my edited code below and the original code below that. I figure I still have a few errors in here. My error checking doesnt seem to work, and I am not sure if my getchar() function is written or working properly.
Please assume I know nothing becasue that is fairly accurate.
The code compiles, but the answer is always 2. I am about 4 hours into this piece of code with 3 more to work after this.
My code
#include <stdio.h>
double get_number(double num);
main () {
double n1,n2,n3;
double average;
printf("\nCompute the average of 3 integers\n");
printf("--------------------------------\n");
n1 = get_number(1);
n2 = get_number(2);
n3 = get_number(3);
average = (n1 + n2 + n3)/3;
printf("The average is %0.2f\n",average);
}
double get_number(double num) {
double value = 0;
char c;
int i;
printf("Please input number %d: ", num);
while (c = getchar != '\n') {
if ( (c>9) || (c<0) ) {
printf("Incorrect character entered as a number - %c\n",c);
return(0);
}
else {
value = num;
}
}
return(value);
}
Original code
#include <stdio.h>
main () {
double n1,n2,n3;
double average;
printf("\nCompute the average of 3 integers\n");
printf("--------------------------------\n");
n1 = get_number(1);
n2 = get_number(2);
n3 = get_number(3);
average = (n1 + n2 + n3)/3;
printf("The average is %0.2f\n",average);
}
double get_number(int num) {
double value = 0;
char c;
printf("Please input number %d: ", num);
while (c = getchar() != '\n') {
if ( (c<=9) && (c>=0) ) {
printf("Incorrect character entered as a number - %c\n",c);
exit(-1);
}
else {
value = 10*value + c - '0';
}
}
return(value);
}

Answer 1

A few issues:
1. You should be using '9' and '0', since you want the ASCII values for digit '9' (0x39) and '0' (0x30), not 0x9 and 0x0.
if ( (c>'9') || (c<'0') ) {
2. != has higher precedence than =, so you need parens. Learn operator precedence, and if you're in doubt, use parens:
3. getchar is a function not a variable.
while ((c = getchar()) != '\n') {
4. You use the wrong conversion. num is a double, so you would need %f. Or, you could make num a int.
printf("Please input number %f: ", num);
5. You never actually use c in any way (except error checking). You always return 0 or num (see your else clause), which makes no sense. The else body of the original is correct.

Answer 2

You got the floating point parsing all wrong and shouldn't be doing it yourself. There's an easier way:
double get_number(double num) {
double value = 0.0;
printf("Please input number %lf: ", num);
scanf("%lf", &value);
return(value);
}

Answer 3

The issues with the original program are:
getchar() returns an ASCII code, and the condition was wrong. When checking for boundaries, use ((c<'0') || (c>'9')).
For the exit function you need to include "stdlib.h".
For the main function to understand what is get_number, you need to either move the function to be before the main function, or you can use a forward declaration.
The assignment operator (=) has lower precedence than the inequality operator (!=), so you need to use parenthesis, like: ((c = getchar()) != '\n')
You have actually created several more issues, so I wouldn't rely on your code.
In any case, in general - it is advised you study how to use a debugger. Once your code is compiling (and for that you'll need to get accustomed to the compilation error messages), you need to start debugging your code. I suggest you take some time to learn how to set breakpoints, set watches, and go step by step into your code. That skill is absolutely essential for a good developer.

Answer 4

Here's how I'd go about correcting the code ...
http://ideone.com/a0UMm -- compilation errors
http://ideone.com/ljUg1 -- warnings, but it works now
http://ideone.com/Qd0gp -- no errors, no warnings, test run ok
For 1. I used the "original code" as posted by you.
For 2. I used int main(void), declared the function get_number before defining main, added parenthesis in line 20, and added #include <stdlib.h>
For 3. I added return 0; before the final } of main. I also removed the extra output that messed up the ideone interface (it looks better on an interactive interface)
Edit more tests needed to complete the task of correcting the original code