Algorithms - GSHS

What is an algorithm?

• A part of the computer CPU.

• A logical step by step process for solving a problem.

• A web coding language.

• A computer peripheral.

Algorithms are normally written as ...

• Flowcharts

• Recipes

• Pseudocode

• Essays

There are a number of basic things to know to really understand a problem such as...

• The inputs/outputs of a problem and the order in which to carry out instructions.

• The mathematical code behind the solution.

• The amount of time it will take to come up with a solution to the problem.

• Whether the problem is deterministic or non deterministic.

Select the three basic building blocks when designing an algorithm

• Sequencing

• Selection

• Functions

• Iteration

What is sequencing?

• When instructions are carried out one after another.

• The order in which a computer chooses to load programs.

• When data is sent to a web server and back again

• How a hard disk loads information into main memory.

Selection is usually represented by the instructions IF, THEN , ELSE?

• True

• False

The following is a simple algorithm using selection:

INPUT age

IF age > 18

OUTPUT adult

ELSE

OUTPUT child

What would the output be if age = 14?

• adult

• child

• none

• error

When designing algorithms, there may be some steps that need _________. This is known as iteration.

Iteration in programming means repeating steps, or instructions over and over again. This is often called a ____.

Algorithms consists of instructions that are carried out one after another. Sometimes an algorithm needs to repeat certain steps until told to stop or until a _________ is met.

• total

• logic gate

• memory limit

• condition