Ch. 1 + 5 (functions) vocabulary

Question 1

Program

Answer 1

A set of instructions the computer follows to perform a task.

Question 2

Programmer

Answer 2

Person who can design, test and create computer programs.

Question 3

Hardware

Answer 3

The physical components that make up a computer.

Question 4

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Answer 4

The part of the computer that actually runs the programs. The most important component of the computer.

Question 5

Microprocessors

Answer 5

CPUs located on small chips.

Question 6

Main memory (RAM)

Answer 6

Stands for Random Access Memory. Where a computer stores a program while it’s running, along with data used by the program.

Question 7

Secondary storage

Answer 7

Can store data for long periods of time, even when the computer is off. For example, disc drive, solid state drive, flash drives, etc.

Question 8

Input

Answer 8

Data the computer collects from people and other devices.

Question 9

Input device

Answer 9

Component that collects data.

Question 10

Output

Answer 10

Data produced by the computer for other people or devices.

Question 11

Output device

Answer 11

Device used to format and present output.

Question 12

Application software

Answer 12

Programs that make the computer useful for everyday tasks

Question 13

System software

Answer 13

Programs that control and manage basic operations of the computer.

Question 14

Byte

Answer 14

Just enough memory to store a small number or a letter. Consists of 8 bits.

Question 15

Bit

Answer 15

Stands for binary digit. The smallest piece of information that can be stored.

Question 16

Digital

Answer 16

Describes any device that stores data as binary numbers.

Question 17

Assembly language

Answer 17

Language made up of mnemonics that is close in nature to machine language. Requires a good understanding of how the CPU works.

Question 18

Algorithm

Answer 18

A set of well-defined logical steps that must be taken to perform a certain task.

Question 19

Pseudocode

Answer 19

Fake code.

Question 20

Flowchart

Answer 20

Diagram that graphically depicts the steps in a program.

Question 21

Function

Answer 21

Piece of prewritten code that performs a task.

Question 22

print function

Answer 22

Displays output on the screen.

Question 23

argument

Answer 23

Data given to a function.

Question 24

String

Answer 24

A sequence of characters that is used as data.

Question 25

String literal

Answer 25

String that appears in the actual code of the program.

Question 26

Comments

Answer 26

Notes of explanations within a program.

Question 27

End-line comment

Answer 27

Appears at the end of a line of code.

Question 28

Variable

Answer 28

Name that represents a value stored in the computer memory.

Question 29

Assignment statement

Answer 29

Used to create a variable and make it reference data.

Question 30

Garbage collection

Answer 30

Removal of values that are no longer referenced by variables.

Question 31

Data types

Answer 31

Categorized values in computer memory.

Question 32

Numeric literal

Answer 32

Number written in a program.

Question 33

Exponent operator **

Answer 33

Raises a number to a power.

Question 34

Multiline continuation character \

Answer 34

Allows to break a statement into multiple lines.

Question 35

Expression

Answer 35

An instruction that combines values and operators and always evaluates down to a single value.

Question 36

format()

Answer 36

The format function always returns a string value. Can be used to format the number, by expressing the number of decimal points, comma separators, etc.

Question 37

Name 5 built-in functions

Answer 37

print(), int(), float(), format(), input(), abs(), max(), min(), round(), str(), len(), type()

Question 38

abs(n)

Answer 38

Returns the absolute value of a function (always a positive number). The value is the same as the parameter n. The data type of the number is the same as the data type of the parameter.

Question 39

round(n)

Answer 39

Returns the integer value closest to the number n. When ‘round’ is used with one argument, as shown, the data type returned is int and the value is the closest integer value to n.

Question 40

round(n,d)

Answer 40

When used with two arguments, round(n,d) returns n rounded to d digits after the decimal points. The data type of the value returned is the same as the data type of n.

Question 41

len(s)

Answer 41

Returns the number of elements in the sequence s. A string is a sequence of characters, so len(s) can be used to find the number of characters in a string.

Question 42

type(x)

Answer 42

Returns the data type of object x.

Question 43

min(…)

Answer 43

Returns the minimum value among all those provided as arguments. The arguments may be two or more individual numbers (i.e. two or more expressions that evaluate to a numerical type). Alternately, a single “iterable” object (e.g. a list) may be provided as an argument.

Question 44

max(…)

Answer 44

Returns the maximum value among all those provide as arguments. The arguments may be two or more individual numbers (i.e., two or more expressions that evaluate to a numerical type). Alternately, a single “iterable” object (e.g. a list) may be provided as an argument.

Question 45

Software

Answer 45

Software are computer programs that make the computer useful.

Question 46

Compiler

Answer 46

A program that translates a high-level programming language into a separate machine language.

Question 47

Interpreter

Answer 47

A program that translates a high-level programming language into machine language and then executes it.

Question 48

List the steps in the software development cycle.

Answer 48

1. Analyze. Define the problem and make sure it’s fully understood. Determine required inputs and outputs.
2. Design a solution to the problem, i.e. an algorithm.
3. Code. I.e. translate your design into the Python language. This step includes creating an effective user interface that obtains the required input from the user and presents output back.
4. Test and debug to correct syntax and logic errors. How can you prove to yourself that the program works for all expected and unexpected inputs?
5. Document. Documentation includes everything that describe the program, its purpose and how it operates. Full documentation is an important piece of every programming project.