Algorithms

Question 1

what is computational thinking?

Answer 1

using techniques to help us solve complex problems

Question 2

why do we need to think computationally?

Answer 2

to help us solve complex problems more easily

Question 3

name an example of thinking computationally

Answer 3

planning our your route when going to meet a friend

Question 4

what is a complex problem?

Answer 4

a problem that is not easy to solve or understand at first

Question 5

which computational thinking technique involves breaking a problem down into smaller parts?

Answer 5

decomposition

Question 6

to create a successful computer program, how many computational thinking techniques are usually required?

Answer 6

all 4

Question 7

when is a computer most likely to be used when using computational thinking?

Answer 7

at the end when programming a computer

Question 8

what is pattern recognition?

Answer 8

when we look for similar patterns within problems

Question 9

why do we need to look for patterns in problems?

Answer 9

patterns make it easier for us to solve complex problems

Question 10

what might happen if we don’t look for patterns in problems?

Answer 10

our solution may be inefficient

Question 11

what is abstraction?

Answer 11

the process of filtering out both irrelevant characteristics and unnecessary detail

Question 12

what is a model?

Answer 12

a representation of a problem

Question 13

what is an algorithm?

Answer 13

a set of step by step instructions to help solve a problem

Question 14

what are algorithms used for?

Answer 14

to plan out the solution to a problem

Question 15

how can an algorithm be represented?

Answer 15

as a flowchart or pseudo code

Question 16

what is a flowchart?

Answer 16

a diagram that represents a set of instructions

Question 17

what is the correct symbol for a process instruction in a flowchart?

Answer 17

a rectangle

Question 18

what is the correct symbol for an input in a flowchart?

Answer 18

a parallelogram

Question 19

what links each instruction in a flowchart?

Answer 19

an arrow

Question 20

what is the correct symbol for a decision in a flowchart?

Answer 20

a diamond

Question 21

what is pseudocode?

Answer 21

a way of describing a set of instructions that doesent use specific syntax?

Question 22

what is evaluation?

Answer 22

the process that allows us to make sure our solution is correct

Question 23

what does a searching algorithm do?

Answer 23

search through a set of data

Question 24

what does serial search do?

Answer 24

looks at the first item of data, then each one in turn until it finds the data item required

Question 25

what is an advantage of serial search?

Answer 25

it is a simple algorithm

Question 26

what does binary search do?

Answer 26

takes the data and splits in half repeatedly until it finds the data item requested

Question 27

which searching algorithm would be best to use with ordered data?

Answer 27

binary, when a list is ordered

Question 28

what is an advantage of binary search?

Answer 28

it is very quick

Question 29

what is the biggest disadvantage of binary search?

Answer 29

it can only be used if the data is sorted into an order

Question 30

what does a sorting algorithm do?

Answer 30

puts a list of items into order

Question 31

what does bubble sort do?

Answer 31

sorts a list by comparing two items that are side by side to see which is out of order

Question 32

how many passes will a bubble sort go through?

Answer 32

as many passes it needs until the data is fully ordered

Question 33

why does a bubble sort do a final pass even when he data is in the correct order?

Answer 33

it does not recognise that the data is in order until the final pass requires no changes

Question 34

what is an advantage of bubble sort?

Answer 34

it is a very small and simple program

Question 35

what does a bucket sort do?

Answer 35

seperate a a list of data into different collections of data, these collections are then sorted back into a list

Question 36

what is a disadvantage of bucket sort?

Answer 36

it is more complicated than a bubble sort

Question 37

what is an advantage of bucket sort?

Answer 37

it is quicker to run than a bubble sort

Question 38

what 3 building blocks are used when designing algorithms?

Answer 38

sequencing, selection and iteration

Question 39

what is sequencing?

Answer 39

the order in which the steps are carried out in an algorithm

Question 40

why is sequencing important?

Answer 40

it is important that the sequence of steps is correct to ensure the algorithm functions as intended

Question 41

what might happen is the sequence is wrong?

Answer 41

the algorithm may produce unexpected results

Question 42

how is sequencing represented in a flowchart?

Answer 42

as a series of boxes that follow each other, linked by arrows

Question 43

how is sequencing represented in pseudocode?

Answer 43

with each step of the algorithm written on a line of its own

Question 44

what is selection?

Answer 44

a decision

Question 45

why is selection important?

Answer 45

it allows us to include more than one path through a solution

Question 46

how many paths can be followed from a decision?

Answer 46

2. true or false

Question 47

in pseudocode how is a decision represented?

Answer 47

IF-THEN-ELSE

Question 48

which of the instructions, IF THEN ELSE represents a question?

Answer 48

IF

Question 49

which of the instructions IF THEN ELSE points to what to do if the answer to the question is false?

Answer 49

ELSE

Question 50

what does the instruction ELSE IF allow?

Answer 50

allows there to be more than 2 paths through an algorithm

Question 51

what is iteration?

Answer 51

repeating steps in an algorithm

Question 52

why is iteration important?

Answer 52

it allows us to simplify an algorithm by removing unnecessary steps

Question 53

what is another name for iteration?

Answer 53

loop

Question 54

what is a condition?

Answer 54

a situation that is checked every time iteration occurs

Question 55

what is meant by testing a condition?

Answer 55

checking to see if a condition has been met

Question 56

how is iteration represented in pseudocode?

Answer 56

REPEAT UNTIL

Question 57

how is iteration represented in a flowchart?

Answer 57

as a decision

Question 58

what is a counter used for in iteration?

Answer 58

to keep track of how many times the solution has iterated

Question 59

what is logical reasoning?

Answer 59

using rules to solve problems

Question 60

what is logical reasoning used for?

Answer 60

to predict the outcome of an algorithm

Question 61

why is logical reasoning used?

Answer 61

to compare the effectiveness of different algorithms to solve a problem