1.7 (paper 2 from onwards)

Question 1

Define computational thinking.

Answer 1

Solving problems that can be implemented by a computer system is known as computational thinking.

Question 2

Define abstraction.

Answer 2

Abstraction is the process of removing unnecessary details of a problem to focus on the important features to implement in a solution.

Question 3

Define decomposition.

Answer 3

Decomposition is the process of breaking down a large problem into a set of smaller problems to make the problem easier to solve.

Question 4

Define algorithmic thinking.

Answer 4

Algorithmic thinking is the process of creating step-by-step instructions in order to produce a solution to a problem.

Question 5

State the three main principles of computational thinking.

Answer 5

The three main principles of computational thinking are:

Abstraction

Decomposition

Algorithmic thinking

Question 6

Define a searching algorithm?

Answer 6

Searching algorithms are precise step-by-step instructions that a computer can follow to efficiently locate specific data in massive datasets.

Question 7

Describe a binary search?

Answer 7

A binary search keeps halving a dataset by comparing the target value with the middle value, going left if smaller, right if bigger, until it finds the value or realises the value is not there.

Question 8

Describe a linear search?

Answer 8

A linear search starts with the first value in a dataset and checks every value one at a time until all values have been checked.

Question 9

State an advantage of linear search over binary search and an advantage of binary search over linear search.

Answer 9

Linear search works on unsorted datasets.
Binary search is fast for large datasets.

Question 10

Define a process?

Answer 10

A process is a doing action performed in the algorithm that transforms inputs into the desired output.

Question 11

What is a structure diagram?

Answer 11

A structure diagram is a visual representation of problem decomposition.

Question 12

Define the term manageable (in the context of structure diagrams).

Answer 12

Manageable refers to sub-problems that are small enough to be handled or dealt with more easily than the original complex problem.

Question 13

Define the term analysis

Answer 13

Analysis is the process of studying or examining a problem in detail to understand its nature and determine a solution.

Question 14

Which flowchart symbol is used for decisions?

Answer 14

Diamond

Question 15

Define syntax error.

Answer 15

A syntax error is an error that breaks the grammatical rules of a programming language and stops it from running.

Question 16

Define a logic error

Answer 16

A logic error is where incorrect code is used that causes the program to run, but produces an incorrect output or result.

Question 17

True or False?

A logic error occurs when the program does not produce the expected output due to incorrect programming logic.

Answer 17

True.

The definition of a logic error is where incorrect code is used that causes the program to run, but produces an incorrect output or result.