1: Chapter 4

Question 1

Cumulative algorithm

Answer 1

An operation in which an overall value is computed incrementally, often using a loop.

Question 2

Roundoff error

Answer 2

A numerical error that occurs because floating-point numbers are stored as approximations rather than as exact values.

Question 3

Text processing

Answer 3

Editing and formatting strings of text.

Question 4

Precondition

Answer 4

A condition that must be true before a method executes in order to guarantee that the method can perform its task.

Question 5

Postcondition

Answer 5

A condition that the method guarantees will be true after it finishes executing, as long as the preconditions were true before the method was called.

Question 6

Cohesion

Answer 6

A desirable quality in which the responsibilities of a method or process are closely related to each other.

Question 7

Coupling

Answer 7

An undesirable state in which two methods or processes rigidly depend on each other.

Question 8

Chaining

Answer 8

An undesirable design in which a “chain” of several methods call each other without returning the overall flow of control to main.