2.1.1 Abstraction

Question 1

What is abstraction?

Answer 1

Simplifying a problem by only considering the necessary details required to obtain a solution.

Question 2

What form of abstraction involves grouping together similarities within a problem to identify what kind of problem it is?

Answer 2

Abstraction by generalisation.

Question 3

What form of abstraction involves hiding details about how data is being stored?

Answer 3

Data abstraction

Question 4

What kind of problems make use of multiple levels of abstraction

Answer 4

Large, complex problems.

Question 5

How does abstraction allow non experts to make use of a system?

Answer 5

By hiding complex and irrelevant information in abstract models.

Question 6

Advantages of using abstraction in software development

Answer 6

• Easier for the programmers to focus on the core aspects
• Reduces the time needed to be spent on the project
• The software will require less computational power
• Prevents program from getting unnecessarily large

Question 7

Applications of layers of abstraction

Answer 7

• Networking (TCP/IP Layer)
• Programming languages

Question 8

Disadvantages of using abstraction in software development

Answer 8

It is possible to have too much abstraction depending on the software / problem.

Question 9

Advantages of using abstraction in programming languages

Answer 9

• Easier to remember syntax in high level languages, because it is closer to natural language
• Coding becomes accessible to beginners

Question 10

How is object oriented programming an abstraction?

Answer 10

• Objects are abstractions for real world entities
• Attributes are an abstraction for the characteristics of an object.
• Methods are an abstraction for the actions a real word object can perform.

Question 11

What is the difference between abstraction and reality?

Answer 11

Abstraction is a simplified representation of reality.