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A Level Computer Studies > Unit 2 - Problem Solving > Flashcards

Unit 2 - Problem Solving Flashcards

1
Q

What is computational thinking?

A

The ability to think logically about a problem and apply techniques for solving it

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2
Q

What are the 5 main ways to solve a problem?

A
  1. Enumeration (list all cases)
  2. Simulation
  3. Theoretical approach
  4. Creative approach
  5. Trial and error
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3
Q

What does simulation involve?

A

Designing a model for a system in order to understand its behaviour and then testing it to observe how the system responds to different situation

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4
Q

What does enumeration involve?

A

Running every possible solution until there is one that works

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5
Q

What does the decrease and conquer approach to algorithm design involve?

A

Breaking down a problem into smaller sub-problems which can be tackled individually and then applied to the greater problem

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6
Q

What is an algorithm?

A

A sequence of steps that can be followed to complete a task and always terminates

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7
Q

What does a good algorithm need to do?

A
  1. Have a clear set of steps which produces a successful outcome for any set of inputs
  2. Allows for invalid inputs
  3. Terminate
  4. Efficiently achieve the outcome in as few steps as possible
  5. Be designed in a way that it can be understood and edited by others
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8
Q

What do hierarchy charts do?

A

Break down a bigger problem into smaller subtasks, a visual representation of decomposition

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9
Q

What does an insertion sort entail?

A

Removing an item and replacing it in the correct position within the set

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10
Q

What type of sets is an insertion sort suited to?

A

Small sets

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11
Q

When is bubble sort used?

A

When there is a small set of values

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12
Q

What does a bubble sort entail?

A

Iterating through the set n-1 times and comparing a value to the ones which are next to it, if they need to switch a switch is carried out

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13
Q

What does a linear search entail?

A

Iterating through the items in the list and comparing them to the desired item, if they match then this item is returned

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14
Q

What does a binary search entail?

A

Splitting the set in two and then checking to see if the desired item is higher or lower, if it is lower the higher section of the set can be discarded and vice versa. This is repeated until the desired item is attained

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15
Q

Why do we test?

A

To reveal errors and prove that a system does not work

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16
Q

Define module testing

A

Ensuring a subprogram works correctly

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17
Q

Define program testing

A

Ensuring that each program within the system works in isolation

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18
Q

Define system testing

A

Ensuring that the whole system works and does what is required of it according to the specification

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19
Q

Why do programmers use testing plans?

A

To keep track of the result of tests and what parts of the system are/aren’t working

20
Q

Define normal data

A

Data which the system should accept without any issue

21
Q

Define boundary data

A

Data which is acceptable but sits either end of the range

22
Q

Define erroneous data

A

Data which the system should not accept

23
Q

How can trace table be useful to test an algorithm?

A

By tracing an algorithm you can test the predicted or actual outcome of the system at different stages during the program without implementation

24
Q

Define abstraction

A

Identifying the difference between information that is relevant to the problem and that which is not and discarding what is not relevant

25
Q

Define information hiding

A

The process of hiding all details of an object that do not contribute to its essential characteristics

26
Q

Give an example of information hiding

A

The London Underground Map

27
Q

What is the link between high level languages and abstraction?

A

High level languages employ abstraction by ensuring that programmers only need to focus on what the computer is doing rather than how it is doing it, this contrasts with machine code

28
Q

Define decomposition

A

Breaking down a problem into smaller sub-problems so that each sub-problem can be solved to accomplish an identifiable task

29
Q

Define composition

A

Combining procedures which accomplish individual tasks to form a compound system which accomplishes the overall task

30
Q

What is a finite state machine?

A

An abstract representation of how a system changes from one state to another in response to an external stimuli

31
Q

What are the three main rules regarding finite state machines?

A
  1. They can only be in one state at a time
  2. It switches between states in response to an event of condition (this is called a transition)
  3. A finite state machine is defined by a list of states and conditions for each transition
32
Q

Define representational abstraction

A

The process of removing unnecessary details so that only information that is required to solve the problem remains and the problem is in a state that can be solved

33
Q

Define abstraction by generalisation

A

The concept of reducing problems by putting similar aspects of a problem into hierarchical categories

34
Q

Define problem solving

A

The process of finding a solution to real-life problems

35
Q

Define automation

A

Creating a computer model of a real-life situation and putting it into action

36
Q

Define logical reasoning

A

The process of using a given set of facts to determine whether new facts are true or false

37
Q

What does hand-tracing/dry running mean?

A

To follow a program through line by line to determine what is happening and identify problems before it is run

38
Q

Give an example of abstraction by generalisation

A

Top down diagrams

39
Q

Define top down diagram

A

Related to the modular approach to problem solving and is a diagram that starts with the main system at the top and breaks it down into smaller and smaller units

40
Q

Define procedural abstraction

A

The concept that all solutions can be broken down into a series of procedures that can be executed one by one

41
Q

Define functional abstraction

A

Breaking down a complex problem into a series of reusable functions

42
Q

Define data abstraction

A

Hiding how data is represented so that it is easier to build a new kind of data object

43
Q

Why is data abstraction beneficial for programmers?

A

Programmers can utilise the functions of data types without needing to know how they work

44
Q

Define data composition

A

The process of combining data objects to create a compound structure

45
Q

Define problem abstraction

A

Removing unnecessary details from a problem until the underlying problem is one that has already been solved

46
Q

How are encapsulation and information hiding linked?

A

Encapsulation involves grouping data and methods together in classes which means hiding irrelevant information from other parts of the program

A Level Computer Studies (15 decks)

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