Chapter 2 Flashcards

Invitation to Computer Science 8th ED

1
Q

What does algorithmic problem solving focus on

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is pseudocode

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Describe natural language

A

Expressive and easy to use

Verbose, unstructured, and ambiguous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Describe programming language

A

Structured and designed for computers

Grammatically fussy and cryptic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe pseudocode in relation to natural and programming language

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the function of sequential operations

A

To perform a single task

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the three basic sequential operations

A

Computation
Input
Output

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is computation (operation)

A

A single numeric calculation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is input (operation)

A

Gets data values from outside the algorithm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is output(operation)

A

sends data values to the outside world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a sequential algorithm

A

An algorithm made up only of sequential operations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a variable

A

a named storage location to hold a data value

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a control operation

A

changes the normal flow of control

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a conditional statement

A

asks a question and selects among alternative options

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the first step of a conditional statement

A
  1. evaluate the true/false condition
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the second step of a conditional statement

A
  1. If the condition is true then do the first set of operations and skip the second set
17
Q

What is the third step of a conditional statement

A
  1. If the condition is false, skip the first set of operations and do the second set
18
Q

What is an iteration

A

an operation that causes looping, repeating a block of instructions

19
Q

What is a continuation condition

A

A test to see if while loop should continue

20
Q

What is a loop body

A

instructions to be performed repeatedly

21
Q

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

A

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

22
Q

What are the primitive operations

A

sequential, conditional and iterative are all that is needed

23
Q

What is a library

A

a collection of prewritten, useful algorithms

24
Q

What is pattern matching algorithms used for

A

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

25
What is the output of the pattern matching algorithm
the locations in the text where each match occurred
26
What are the two parts of an algorithm
* *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
27
How do you solve an algorithm
Solve each part separately and/or use abstraction and top-down design
28
What is abstraction in relation to an algorithm
when you focus on high level and not the details
29
what is top-down design in relation to an algorithm
start with the big picture and gradually elaborate parts