Programming Fundamentals

Question 1

What is an INTEGER?

Answer 1

Whole numbers that can be positive or negative and includes 0.

Examples include -5, 0, and 7.

Question 2

What is a REAL / FLOAT?

Answer 2

Numbers that have a decimal point, which can also be negative.

Examples include -1.8, 0.5, and 3.14.

Question 3

What is a BOOLEAN?

Answer 3

A data type that can only take one of two values: TRUE or FALSE, YES or NO, 0 or 1.

Used in logical operations.

Question 4

What does CHARACTER represent in programming?

Answer 4

A single letter, number or symbol, e.g. 6, Y, &.

It is often used to denote individual characters in strings.

Question 5

What is a STRING?

Answer 5

A collection of characters used to represent text, e.g. ‘Mavis’, ‘C19$8’.

Strings can include spaces and punctuation.

Question 6

Fill in the blank: A BOOLEAN can only take the values _______.

Answer 6

TRUE or FALSE

Question 7

True or False: A FLOAT can only be a positive number.

Answer 7

False

FLOATs can be negative, such as -1.5.

Question 8

What is casting?

Answer 8

Casting is used to change the data type.

e.g. You could change the integer 7 to string “7”.

Question 9

What are arithmetic operators?

Answer 9

Arithmetic Operators take two values and perform a mathematical function on them.

e.g. 5 + 6.

Question 10

What is exponentiation?

Answer 10

Exponentiation is used to raise a number to a power. In Python, the symbols ^ or ** are used.

e.g. 2 ** 3 = 2x2x2 = 8.

Question 11

What does the Div operator do?

Answer 11

The Div operator returns the whole number part of a division. In Python, the symbol // is used.

e.g. 20 // 3 = 6.

Question 12

What does the MOD operator do?

Answer 12

The MOD operator returns the remainder part of the division. In Python, the symbol % is used.

e.g. 20 % 3 = 2.

Question 13

What is the Assignment Operator?

Answer 13

The Assignment Operator is used to allocate values to constants or variables.

Question 14

What do Comparison Operators do?

Answer 14

Comparison Operators compare the expression on the left hand side with the expression on the right hand side and produce a Boolean value: True or False.

Question 15

What is a Constant?

Answer 15

A Constant is assigned a data value that cannot be changed as the program runs.

Example: VAT = 0.2

Question 16

What is a Variable?

Answer 16

A variable is a location in memory that holds one or more values. It has a label or name to identify it and its values can be changed as the program runs.

Question 17

What can you do with string manipulation commands?

Answer 17

You can use commands which give you information about the string or allow you to alter the string.

Question 18

What are IF Statements?

Answer 18

IF Statements allow you to check if a statement is True or False and carry out different actions based on the outcome.

Example: if age <= 16 then print(“Child”) else print(“Adult”)

Question 19

What are Switch Statements?

Answer 19

Switch statements (also known as Case Select Statements) can check if a variable has a specific value.

Example: print(“You selected 1”) print(“This is not a valid choice”)

Question 20

What is a COUNT CONTROLLED LOOP (FOR)?

Answer 20

For Loops will repeat the code in them a fixed number of times.

Example: For i = 1 to 7

Question 21

What is a CONDITION CONTROLLED LOOP (WHILE)?

Answer 21

While Loops are controlled by a condition at the start of the loop and will keep going while the condition is true.

Example: While total < 10

Question 22

What is a CONDITION CONTROLLED LOOP (DO)?

Answer 22

A DO … UNTIL Loop is controlled by a condition at the end of the loop and will keep going until the condition is true. This loop will always run at least once.

Example: Do num = input Until total >= 10

Question 23

What are the three Boolean operators?

Answer 23

AND, OR, NOT

These are used in selection and iteration statements.

Question 24

What is the purpose of random numbers in programming?

Answer 24

They are useful for simple games.

Example: X = random(1,6)

Question 25

What is an array?

Answer 25

A data structure that can store a collection of data values under one name.

Example: scores = [2, 5, 1, 3, 4, 7, 9]

Question 26

What is a two-dimensional array?

Answer 26

It can be thought of as a one-dimensional array where each element is a one-dimensional array.

Question 27

What is file handling in programming?

Answer 27

It is about how a program can access and change data stored in an external file.

Question 28

What is a Record?

Answer 28

A Record is a type of data structure like an array - it is used to store a collection of data values. They can store values with different data types.

Question 29

What does SQL stand for?

Answer 29

SQL stands for Structured Query Language.

Question 30

What is the purpose of SQL?

Answer 30

SQL can be used to search database tables for specific data.

Question 31

What is a Sub Program?

Answer 31

Sub Programs can be used to save time and simplify code. The Sub Program will usually carry out a specific task.

Question 32

What are Procedures?

Answer 32

Procedures are sets of instructions stored under one name. When you want your program to carry out these instructions, you just call the name of the procedure.

Question 33

What are Functions?

Answer 33

Functions are similar to procedures but Functions always return a value.