Unit 1 SDD - Implementation - Data Types & Structures

Question 1

Why is it important to define data types in a program?

Answer 1

Data types tell the program what kind of data a variable will hold, ensuring correct storage and operations in RAM.

Question 2

What are the main data types in programming?

Answer 2

Integer, Real, Character, String, and Boolean.

Question 3

What does the INTEGER data type store? Give an example.

Answer 3

Stores whole numbers (positive or negative). Example: 17.

Question 4

What does the REAL data type store? Give an example.

Answer 4

Stores numbers with decimal places (floating-point numbers). Example: 17.65.

Question 5

What does the CHARACTER data type store? Give an example.

Answer 5

Stores a single letter, number, or symbol. Example: ‘$’.

Question 6

What does the STRING data type store? Give an example.

Answer 6

Stores text or alphanumeric combinations (a group of characters). Example: ‘Bitesize’.

Question 7

Why shouldn’t numbers used for calculations be stored as a STRING?

Answer 7

Because string data is treated as text and cannot be used directly in calculations. Instead, they should be stored as INTEGER or REAL.

Question 8

What does the BOOLEAN data type store? Give an example.

Answer 8

Stores True or False values. Sometimes represented as 1 (true) and 0 (false).

Question 9

What are the two types of data structures required for National 5?

Answer 9

Variables and 1D arrays.

Question 10

Why are data structures important in programming?

Answer 10

They store user inputs and results from internal processes, making it possible to manage and manipulate data efficiently.

Question 11

How does program analysis relate to data structures?

Answer 11

Almost every input or process identified in a program’s functional requirements needs a data structure to store data.

Question 12

What is a data structure?

Answer 12

A data structure is a way of storing multiple values or items together in an organized manner.

Question 13

Why is STRING considered both a data type and a data structure?

Answer 13

A STRING is an array of characters stored together in sequence, making it both a data type and a structured way of storing text.

Question 14

How is the name ‘Anne’ stored as a STRING?

Answer 14

It is stored as an array of four characters: ‘A’, ‘n’, ‘n’, ‘e’.

Question 15

What is an array?

Answer 15

An array is a data structure that allows multiple values to be stored in a list format under a single variable.

Question 16

Give an example of an array declaration.

Answer 16

DECLARE firstName AS STRING INITIALLY [‘Cho’, ‘Eve’, ‘Joseph’, ‘Uzair’] - This stores four names in an array.

Question 17

What is a variable in programming?

Answer 17

A variable is a storage location in a computer’s memory for a single item of data.

Question 18

What is a good analogy for a variable?

Answer 18

A variable is like a box where you can store data and label it to know what’s inside.