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b7, Algorithm Slides

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b7, Algorithm Slides

Uploaded by

leebeatrice285
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ALGORITHM

A step by step problem-solving process in which a solution is arrived at in


a finite amount of time.
Or
A sequence of steps for solving a specific problem given its input data and
the expected output data.
Algorithms - developing a step-by-step solution to the problem, or
the rules to follow to solve the problem
•Decomposition - breaking down a complex problem or system into smaller,
more manageable parts
•Pattern recognition – looking for similarities among and within problems
•Abstraction – focusing on the important information only, ignoring irrelevant
detail
DESIGNING ALGORITHM
• When designing an algorithm, consider if there is more
than one way of solving the problem.
• When designing an algorithm there are two main areas
to look at:
• the big picture - What is the final goal?
• the individual stages – What hurdles need to be
overcome on the way to the goal?
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

• Before an algorithm can be designed, it is important to check that


the problem is completely understood. There are number of basic
things to know in order to really understand the problem:
• What are the inputs into the problem?
• What will be the outputs of the problem?
• In what order do instructions need to be carried out?
• What decisions need to be made in the problem?
• Are any areas of the problem repeated?
+Once these basic things are understood, it is time to design the
algorithm.
Example 1
 Pseudocode for cooking rice might look as follows:
1) Start
2) Wash the rice
3) Put into boiling water in saucepan
4) Leave to boil for some minutes until thoroughly cooked
5) End
Example 2
Pseudocode for adding two numbers might look as:
1) Start
2) Prompt for first number
3) Enter first number
4) Prompt for second number
5) Enter second number
6) Calculate the sum of the two numbers, i.e. num1 + num2
7) Display the results
8) End
DESIGN AN ALGORITHM TO FIND THE
PERIMETER AND AREA OF A RECTANGLE
1. Get the length of the rectangle
2. Get the width of the rectangle
3. Find the perimeter using the equation
perimeter = 2 * (length + area )
4. For the area, we use the formulae
Area = length * width
NB: there would be more examples on algorithm
PSEUDOCODE
Most programs are developed using programming
languages.
These languages have specific syntax that must be used
so that the program will run properly.
Syntax: it refers to rules that govern a particular
programming language
Pseudocode is not a programming language;
it is a simple way of describing a set
of instructions that does not have to use specific syntax
There are two main ways that algorithms can be represented
Representing an algorithm: Pseudocode
– pseudocode and flowcharts.

Most programs are developed using programming languages.

These languages have specific syntax that must be used so that the program will run
properly.

Pseudocode is not a programming language,


it is a simple way of describing a set of instructions that does not have to use specific
syntax.
Writing in pseudocode is like writing in a programming language.
Each step of the algorithm is written on a line of its own in sequence.
Usually, instructions are written in uppercase, variables in lowercase and
messages in sentence case.
In pseudocode, INPUT asks a question.
PSEUDOCODE CONT’D

A simple program could be created


to ask someone their name and age,
and to make a comment based on
these. This program represented in
pseudocode would look like this:
EXAMPLE OF PSEUDOCODE
+OUTPUT 'What is your name?’
+INPUT user inputs their name STORE the user's input in the
name variable OUTPUT 'Hello' + name
+OUTPUT 'How old are you?’
+INPUT user inputs their age STORE the user's input in the
age variable
+IF age >= 70
+THEN
+OUTPUT 'You are aged to perfection!’
+ELSE OUTPUT 'You are a spring chicken!'
+In programming, > means ‘greater than’, < means ‘less
than’, ≥ means ‘greater than or equal to’ and ≤ means ‘less
than or equal to’.
EXAMPLE

REPEAT OUTPUT 'What is the best subject you take?’


INPUT user inputs the best subject they take
STORE the user's input in the answer variable
IF answer = 'Computer Science' THEN
OUTPUT 'Of course it is!’
ELSE
OUTPUT 'Try again!’
UNTIL answer = 'Computer Science'

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