Chapter 2

Question 1

What does algorithmic problem solving focus on

Answer 1

Algorithmic problem solving focuses on algorithms suitable for computers such as searching lists and matching patterns

Question 2

What is pseudocode

Answer 2

A tool for designing algorithms but does not run on a computing device

Question 3

Describe natural language

Answer 3

Expressive and easy to use

Verbose, unstructured, and ambiguous

Question 4

Describe programming language

Answer 4

Structured and designed for computers

Grammatically fussy and cryptic

Question 5

Describe pseudocode in relation to natural and programming language

Answer 5

lies somewhere between the two and is used to design algorithms prior to coding them

Question 6

What is the function of sequential operations

Answer 6

To perform a single task

Question 7

What are the three basic sequential operations

Answer 7

Computation
Input
Output

Question 8

What is computation (operation)

Answer 8

A single numeric calculation

Question 9

What is input (operation)

Answer 9

Gets data values from outside the algorithm

Question 10

What is output(operation)

Answer 10

sends data values to the outside world

Question 11

What is a sequential algorithm

Answer 11

An algorithm made up only of sequential operations

Question 12

What is a variable

Answer 12

a named storage location to hold a data value

Question 13

What is a control operation

Answer 13

changes the normal flow of control

Question 14

What is a conditional statement

Answer 14

asks a question and selects among alternative options

Question 15

What is the first step of a conditional statement

Answer 15

1. evaluate the true/false condition

Question 16

What is the second step of a conditional statement

Answer 16

2. If the condition is true then do the first set of operations and skip the second set

Question 17

What is the third step of a conditional statement

Answer 17

3. If the condition is false, skip the first set of operations and do the second set

Question 18

What is an iteration

Answer 18

an operation that causes looping, repeating a block of instructions

Question 19

What is a continuation condition

Answer 19

A test to see if while loop should continue

Question 20

What is a loop body

Answer 20

instructions to be performed repeatedly

Question 21

What is true about a do/while and an alternate iterative operation

Answer 21

continuation condition appears at the end and loop body is always performed at least once

Question 22

What are the primitive operations

Answer 22

sequential, conditional and iterative are all that is needed

Question 23

What is a library

Answer 23

a collection of prewritten, useful algorithms

Question 24

What is pattern matching algorithms used for

Answer 24

to locate every occurrence of the given pattern within the text.

Question 25

What is the output of the pattern matching algorithm

Answer 25

the locations in the text where each match occurred

Question 26

What are the two parts of an algorithm

Answer 26

• *Sliding the pattern along the text, aligning it with each position in turn
• *Given a particular alignment, determine if there is a match at that location

Question 27

How do you solve an algorithm

Answer 27

Solve each part separately and/or use abstraction and top-down design

Question 28

What is abstraction in relation to an algorithm

Answer 28

when you focus on high level and not the details

Question 29

what is top-down design in relation to an algorithm

Answer 29

start with the big picture and gradually elaborate parts