2.1 - producing algorithms

Question 1

Algorithms in pseudocode

Answer 1

Most programs are written using programming language. They have specific syntaxes that need to be used

Question 2

What is pseudocode

Answer 2

It is not an actual programming language. Instead, it is a simple way of describing a set of instructions in a manner that resembles a programming language. It has its own syntax, some of which is very similar to many actual programming languages. Any algorithms designed using pseudocode will not run unless they are converted into an actual programming language.

Question 3

Advantages of pseudocode

Answer 3

• pseudocode is similar to a programming language, it can be quickly and easily converted into an actual programming language
• fairly easy to understand, even for non-programmers
• does not matter if there are errors in the syntax - it is usually still obvious what is intended
• changes to the design can be incorporated quite easily

Question 4

Disadvantages of pseudocode

Answer 4

• can be hard to see how a program flows
• can be time consuming to produce

Question 5

What is a flow diagram

Answer 5

A diagram that shows an overview of a
program. Flow diagrams normally use standard symbols to represent the different types of
instruction. These symbols are used to construct the flowchart and show the step-by-step solution to the problem. Flow diagrams are sometimes known as flowcharts.

Question 6

What does a line in a flow diagram represent

Answer 6

Flow from one component to the next

Question 7

What does a rectangle in a flow diagram represent

Answer 7

Process - an action

Question 8

What does a rectangle with two lines represent in a flow diagram

Answer 8

Subroutine

Question 9

What does a parallelogram in a flow diagram represent

Answer 9

Input/ output

Question 10

What does a diamond in a flow diagram represent

Answer 10

Decision

Question 11

What does a round rectangle in a flow diagram represent

Answer 11

Start/ stop

Question 12

Two types of programming problems

Answer 12

Logic
Syntax

Question 13

What is a syntax error

Answer 13

A syntax error occurs when code written does not follow the rules of the programming language. A program will not run if it has syntax errors. Any such errors must be fixed first.

Question 14

What is a logic error

Answer 14

A logic error is an error in the way a program works. The program simply does not do what it is expected to do.