2.1.1 Thinking Abstractly

Question 1

What is representational abstraction?

Answer 1

A technique in which excessive details are
removed to arrive at a representation of a
problem that consists of only the key
features.

Question 2

Which 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 is meant by data abstraction?

Answer 3

A form of abstraction in which details
about how data is being stored are
hidden.

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

Hides complex and irrelevant information
in abstract models

Question 6

State two advantages of using
abstraction in software development

Answer 6

• Easier for programmers to focus on core elements
• Reduces the time needed to be spent on the project.
• Prevents program from getting unnecessarily large.

Question 7

Give two applications of layers of abstraction

Answer 7

Networking (TCP/IP layer)
- Programming languages

Question 8

State two advantages of using
abstraction in programming languages

Answer 8

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

Question 9

How does object-oriented
programming use abstraction?

Answer 9

Objects are an abstraction for real-world entities.
Attributes are an abstraction for the characteristics of
an object.
Methods are an abstraction for the actions a
real-world object is able to perform.

Question 10

What is the difference between
abstraction and reality?

Answer 10

Abstraction is a simplified representation
of reality