Algorithmic Thinking and Problem-Solving

Question 1

What is an algorithm?

Answer 1

Algorithm is ordered set of clear, executing steps to accomplish task or solve problem

Question 2

Give an example of an algorithm.

Answer 2

F = (9/5)C + 32 or as sequence of instructions

Question 3

What is computational thinking?

Answer 3

Computational thinking is method used by computer scientists and engineers to solve difficult problems

Question 4

What are the steps of computational thinking?

Answer 4

1. Decomposition: breaking down larger problem into several smaller parts
2. Pattern Recognition: identifying sequences, regularities or other patterns in the problem
3. Abstraction: simplifying the problem by focusing on important details while discarding irrelevant ones
4. Algorithm Design: creating step-by-step instructions to solve problem

Question 5

What is a flowchart?

Answer 5

diagrams that use geometric shapes and arrows to illustrate algorithm’s sequence, process or flow

Question 6

What does an oval represent in a flowchart?

Answer 6

Start and end points

Question 7

What does a parallelogram represent in a flowchart?

Answer 7

Input and output

Question 8

What does a rectangle represent in a flowchart?

Answer 8

A process

Question 9

What does a rhombus represent in a flowchart?

Answer 9

represents decision that determines next step, yes or no

Question 10

What is an infinite loop?

Answer 10

A piece of instructions that keeps executing forever as terminating condition is never reached

Question 11

What is a finite loop?

Answer 11

A piece of instructions executed for a fixed number of times

Question 12

Give an example of a complex algorithm.

Answer 12

instructions for linear search algorithm to find element x in list

Question 14

What does an oval represent in a flowchart?

Answer 14

Start and end points

Question 15

What does a parallelogram represent in a flowchart?

Answer 15

input and output

Question 16

What does a rectangle represent in a flowchart?

Answer 16

process

Question 17

What does a rhombus represent in a flowchart?

Answer 17

decision that determines next step, yes or no

Question 18

What does a flowline represent in a flowchart?

Answer 18

connection between actions

Question 19

What is an infinite loop?

Answer 19

piece of instructions that keeps executing forever as terminating condition is never reached

Question 20

What is a finite loop?

Answer 20

Finite loop is piece of instructions executed for a fixed number of times