Fundamentals of Computational Thinking. Flashcards
What is logical reasoning?
The process of using a set of given facts to determine whether new facts are true or false.
What are the advantages of logical reasoning?
Helps understand the nature of problems, identify the facts relevant to the problem and to draw conclusions.
What is an algorithm?
A step-by-step procedure for carrying out a particular task.
What is automation?
Creating a computer model of a real-life situation and putting it into action.
How is automation done?
Understanding the problem
Creating suitable algorithms
Using appropriate data to solve the problem.
What are the considerations with automation?
Identify the key factors that make the model accurate and to consider what date to use and where to get it from.
What is abstraction?
To reduce problems to their essential features, ignoring the unnecessary details.
What is representational abstraction?
Process of removing unnecessary details so only information required to solve the problem remains.
What is abstraction by generalisation/ categorisation?
The concept of reducing problems by putting similar aspects of a problem into hierarchical categories.
What is procedural abstraction?
The concept that all solutions can be broken down into a series of subroutines.
What is Top-Down design?
The main system at the top and breaking it down into smaller units.
What are the considerations of Top-Down design?
What event triggers the subroutine
How subroutines link together
How errors are handled.
What is functional abstraction?
Breaking down a complex problem into a series of reusable functions.
Main processes defined in terms of functions.
What is data abstraction?
Hiding how data is represented so it is easier to build a new kind of data object.
Separates implementation from interface.
What is data composition?
Data objects are combined to create a compound structure.
