Computing - Programming

Question 1

What is a parallelogram in a flowchart?

Answer 1

Represents input or output of data

Question 2

What is a rectangle in a flowchart?

Answer 2

A process

Question 3

What is a diamond in a flowchart?

Answer 3

A decision

Question 4

What is pseudo code?

Answer 4

A programming language that uses program code and English

It is used to plan the way an algorithm works

Question 5

What are the differences between sequence, selection and iteration?

Answer 5

Sequence is a simple list of code instructions that are carried out in order
Selection uses a condition to decide which pathway to be taken (if statements)
Iteration repeats sections of code a certain number of times or until a condition is true (for and while loops)

Question 6

What is a nested loop?

Answer 6

When there is selection or iteration inside another selection of iteration

Question 7

What is a variable?

Answer 7

A value in a program that can be changed by the code

It acts as storage of a value

Question 8

What are the 5 main data types and what do they do?

Answer 8

String (stores text as a string of characters)
Integer (stores whole numbers)
Real (stores decimal numbers)
Boolean (true or false)
Character (stores a single character)

Question 9

How much memory is needed for each data type?

Answer 9

String (number of characters in bytes)
Real (4 or 8 bytes)
Integer (2 or 4 bytes)
Character (1 byte)
Boolean (1 bit)

Question 10

What is an array?

Answer 10

A variable that stores multiple pieces or information

Each piece of information has a reference number in the array

Question 11

What are the 5 main string handling functions?

Answer 11

Length (number of characters)
Left, Right and Mid string
Ucase and Lcase (converts to upper or lower case)
Asc (gets ASCII value of character)
Chr (gets character from an ASCII value)

Question 12

What are the 3 levels of programming languages and what do they do?

Answer 12

Machine code (1s and 0s that the computer can execute directly)
Assembly code (mnemonics for machine code)
High level code (where English words are used as code)

Question 13

What is a translator?

Answer 13

A tool that translates machine, assembly and high level code into one another when required

Question 14

What is the difference between syntax errors and logical errors?

Answer 14

Syntax errors are where the program has actually been written so that the computer can’t understand it (syntax is wrong)
Logical errors happen when the program has a fine syntax but does something different than to what the programmer wants

Question 15

What steps should be taken when testing a program?

Answer 15

Valid (does normal data work?)
Valid extreme (does data that is almost out of range but is still acceptable work?)
Invalid (data that is out of range should be rejected)
Invalid extreme (data that is almost acceptable but not quite should be rejected)
Erroneous (data that is the wrong type of input should be rejected)

Question 16

What is an oval in a flowchart?

Answer 16

Start or end the program