Intro to Computers and Programming Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a Computer?

A

A programmable electronic device that can store, retrieve and process data.

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2
Q

What are the advantages of a computer?

A

Reliable, Fast, Does not tire, Follows instructions precisely

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3
Q

What are the disadvantages of a computer?

A

Cannot analyze problems, Follows instructions more precisely than humans do

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4
Q

What can a computer do?

A

Simple aritmetic, Comparisons/decision making, Communication

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5
Q

What are the Components of a Computer?

A

Input devices, CPU, Main Memory, Secondary Memory, Output devices

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6
Q

What is a CPU

A

Central Processing Unit- fetches and follows a set of simple instructions(also called the processor)

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7
Q

What is the Main Memory?

A

storage for the executing program and its data in RAM (random access memory). Volatile.

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8
Q

What is secondary memory?

A

storage for permanent records (files). Non-volatile.

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9
Q

What are the parts of a CPU?

A

ALU and Control Unit

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10
Q

What is an ALU?

A

Arithmetic and Logic Unit- performs mathematical operations

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11
Q

What is the Control Unit?

A

coordinates all of the computer’s operations, performs the fetch/decode/execute cycle.

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12
Q

What are the two types of Software?

A

Operating Systems and Programs.

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13
Q

What does an operating system do?

A

allocates the computer’s resources and allows communication between user and computer.

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14
Q

What is a program?

A

a set of instructions to perform specific tasks.

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15
Q

What is an algorithm?

A

a set of well defined steps for performing a task or solving a problem.

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16
Q

What is the relationship between an algorithm and a program?

A

A program is an algorithm that has been translated into a programming language so that the computer and understand and perform the steps.

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17
Q

What is a programming language?

A

a special language used to write programs.

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18
Q

What are the three types of programming languages?

A

High-level, Low-level, and Machine

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19
Q

What is a High-Level Language.

A

designed to be easy for humans to read and to write programs in, but too complicated for the computer to understand.

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20
Q

What is a Low-Level Language?

A

consists of simple instructions which can be understood by the computer after a minor translation.

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21
Q

What is Machine Language?

A

written in the form of zeros and ones, can be understood directly by the computer.

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22
Q

What is the process in which source code becomes executable code?

A

Source Code goes through the preprocessor, becomes modified source, then the compiler, becomes object code, then the linker to become executable code.

23
Q

What are the main Language Elements?

A

Key Words, Programmer Defined Symbols, Operators, Punctuation, Syntax

24
Q

What are Key Words?

A

reserved words that have a special meaning.

25
Q

What are Programmer Defined Symbols?

A

words or names that have been defined by the programmer. May be variables, constants, or functions/routines.

26
Q

What are operators?

A

symbols to tell the computer to perform specific operations.

27
Q

What is punctuation in programming?

A

symbols to begin or end a statement or separate items of a list.

28
Q

What is syntax?

A

grammar rules for combining elements.

29
Q

What does the double slash (//) signify?

A

The beginning of a one line comment

30
Q

What does the slash asterisk (/* */) signify?

A

a comment is enclosed

31
Q

What does the octothorp (#) signify?

A

the beginning of a preprocessor directive.

32
Q

What do brackets (<>) signify?

A

an enclosed filename or datatype.

33
Q

What do parentheses signify?

A

contains the parameters for functions or changes the order of operations

34
Q

What do braces ({}) signify?

A

a group of statements being enclosed.

35
Q

What does a semicolon (;) signify?

A

The end of a C++ statement.

36
Q

What are the three phases of writing programs?

A

The Problem Solving Phase, Implementation Phase, and The Maintenance Phase.

37
Q

What steps occur in the Problem Solving Phase?

A

Analysis & Specification, General Solution, Verification

38
Q

What steps occur in The Implementation Phase?

A

Concrete solution, testing

39
Q

What steps occur in the Maintenance Phase?

A

Use, Maintain

40
Q

What are the three main types of Programming Errors?

A

Syntax errors, Logic errors, Run-time errors.

41
Q

What are syntax errors?

A

code that does not follow the grammar rules of the language. These are found by the compiler.

42
Q

What are logic errors?

A

Results are incorrect because of an error in implementation. These are found by using test data.

43
Q

What are run-time errors?

A

when the program causes the computer to perform an illegal operation, such as dividing by 0 or finding the square root of a negative number.

44
Q

What is Input?

A

data the user of the program will need to enter into the program.

45
Q

What is Output?

A

information the user expects to receive from the program.

46
Q

What is Processing?

A

What the program does to the input to produce the output.

47
Q

What is Procedural Programming?

A

focuses on the development of procedures (functions) to solve problems.

48
Q

What is Object Oriented Programming?

A

developing objects that are a combination of procedures.

49
Q

What are the four main parts of a program?

A

Comments, Preprocessor Directives, Functions, and Statements.

50
Q

What are comments?

A

describe what the program is supposed to do and what various portions do. Often used as documentation.

51
Q

What are Preprocessor Directives?

A

directions to perform before program starts.

52
Q

What are funcitons?

A

groups of statements to perform a specific task.

53
Q

What are Statements?

A

actions executed by the computer.