Learn to Write a Python Program That Asks Users to Enter Five Test Scores: A Step-by-Step Guide

  

Python is a versatile, easy-to-learn, and widely used programming language. In this guide, you will learn how to write a Python program that asks users to enter five test scores and then calculates the average of those scores. By following this step-by-step tutorial, you will be able to create a simple yet effective program to handle this task.

## Table of Contents

1. [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)
2. [Step 1: Getting User Input](#step-1-getting-user-input)
3. [Step 2: Calculate the Average](#step-2-calculate-the-average)
4. [Step 3: Display the Result](#step-3-display-the-result)
5. [FAQs](#faqs)

<a name="prerequisites"></a>
## Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following installed on your computer:

- Python 3.x: You can download the latest version of Python from the [official website](https://www.python.org/downloads/).
- A text editor or an Integrated Development Environment (IDE): Some popular options are [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/), [PyCharm](https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/), and [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/).

<a name="step-1-getting-user-input"></a>
## Step 1: Getting User Input

The first step in writing the program is to get input from the user. We'll use the `input()` function to prompt the user to enter their test scores.

1. Create a new file called `test_scores.py` in your text editor or IDE.
2. Add the following code to the file:

```python
# Get user input for five test scores
score1 = float(input("Enter test score 1: "))
score2 = float(input("Enter test score 2: "))
score3 = float(input("Enter test score 3: "))
score4 = float(input("Enter test score 4: "))
score5 = float(input("Enter test score 5: "))

This code will prompt the user to enter their test scores one by one. The float() function is used to convert the user input, which is a string, into a floating-point number, which is a number with a decimal point.

Step 2: Calculate the Average

Now that we have the user's test scores, we can calculate the average. To do this, we'll add all the scores together and then divide the sum by the total number of scores.

1. Add the following code to your test_scores.py file:

# Calculate the average of the test scores
average = (score1 + score2 + score3 + score4 + score5) / 5

This code will add up all the test scores and then divide the sum by 5, which is the total number of test scores.

Step 3: Display the Result

The final step is to display the result to the user. We'll use the print() function to output the average of the test scores.

1. Add the following code to your test_scores.py file:

# Display the result
print("The average of the test scores is:", average)

This code will print the average of the test scores to the console.

1. Save your file and run the program by typing python test_scores.py in the terminal or command prompt. You should see the prompts to enter the test scores, and after entering them, the program will display the average.

FAQs

What is the difference between input() and raw_input() in Python?

input() is used in Python 3, while raw_input() is used in Python 2. In Python 3, input() returns a string, whereas raw_input() returns a string in Python 2. Since Python 2 is no longer supported, it is recommended to use Python 3 and the input() function.

Why do we use float() to convert the user input?

The input() function returns a string, but we need a number to perform mathematical operations. The float() function converts the string input into a floating-point number, which is a number with a decimal point.

Can I use this program to calculate the average of more than five test scores?

Yes, you can modify the program to handle any number of test scores. You would need to change the number of input prompts and adjust the calculation of the average accordingly.

How can I round the result to a specific number of decimal places?

You can use the round() function to round the result to a specific number of decimal places. Just replace the print() statement with the following code:

print("The average of the test scores is:", round(average, 2))

This will round the average to 2 decimal places.

How can I store the test scores in a list instead of individual variables?

You can use a for loop and the append() method to store the test scores in a list. Replace the user input prompts with the following code:

# Get user input for test scores and store in a list
test_scores = []
for i in range(1, 6):
    score = float(input(f"Enter test score {i}: "))
    test_scores.append(score)

Then, replace the average calculation with the following code:

# Calculate the average of the test scores
average = sum(test_scores) / len(test_scores)

This will calculate the average using the list of test scores.
```