help on code lab:

Write an arithmetic expression that calculates the average of $18$ and $46.$

You may already know that:

the average of two numbers is their sum divided by $2$

the symbol for division is $/,$ thus $10$ divided by $5$ is written as $\frac{10}{5}$

division has higher arithmetic precedence than addition

parentheses $(()\text{'}$s$)$ may be used to override precedence

Thus, one correct solution would be:

$\frac{18+46}{2}$

Try it$--$ enter the above solution and click the submit button!

Even with an exercise as simple as taking the average of $18$ and $46$ it is still possible to make mistakes. For example:

we might forget to use parentheses:

$18+\frac{46}{2}$

or$,$ we might use the wrong arithmetic operator:

$\frac{18-46}{2}$

Try these and see the system feedback. Also try entering some of your own incorrect answers, and see what you get.

Again, what makes programming so interesting is that there are also MANY ways to be right. For example, we could reverse the $18$ and $46$ and still have a correct

answer:

$\frac{46+18}{2}$

One of the most essential components of all learning is experimentation. Nowhere is this more true than in learning programming. Students should be encouraged to

experiment with solutions even after "getting it right".

Having submitted a typical correct solution, a student might experiment with:

$\frac{18+46}{3-1}$