Y7 L1 Decomposition

What is decomposition?

• Breaking down a complex problem or system into smaller, more manageable parts

• Adding detail to make a problem more complex

• When you ignore the unnecessary detail in a problem

Why do we decompose a complex problem?

• To make it more difficult to solve

• To change the problem we have

• To make it easier to solve

Which of these is an example of decomposition?

• Breaking the problem of organising a cake sale into smaller parts, such as who will bake the cakes and when to hold the cake sale

• Taking the problem of baking a cake and thinking about how we can make it the best cake possible

• Looking at what different kinds of cake can be made

Computational thinking...

• Allows us to solve complex problems. It does not mean thinking like a computer, because after all computers cannot think. Computational thinking is broken down into 4 key areas, Decomposition, Pattern Recognition, Abstraction and Algorithms.

• Is recognising patterns or similarities when something is decomposed. For example both flying insects, birds and airplanes all have wings.

• Is the process of removing unnecessary details from a decomposed problem. This allows us to focus only on the problem.

• Is developing a step-by-step solution to the problem, or the rules to follow to solve the problem

Pattern recognition...

• Allows us to solve complex problems. It does not mean thinking like a computer, because after all computers cannot think. Computational thinking is broken down into 4 key areas, Decomposition, Pattern Recognition, Abstraction and Algorithms.

• Is recognising patterns or similarities when something is decomposed. For example both flying insects, birds and airplanes all have wings.

• Is the process of removing unnecessary details from a decomposed problem. This allows us to focus only on the problem.

• Is developing a step-by-step solution to the problem, or the rules to follow to solve the problem

Abstraction...

• Allows us to solve complex problems. It does not mean thinking like a computer, because after all computers cannot think. Computational thinking is broken down into 4 key areas, Decomposition, Pattern Recognition, Abstraction and Algorithms.

• Is recognising patterns or similarities when something is decomposed. For example both flying insects, birds and airplanes all have wings.

• Is the process of removing unnecessary details from a decomposed problem. This allows us to focus only on the problem.

• Is developing a step-by-step solution to the problem, or the rules to follow to solve the problem

Algorithms

• Allows us to solve complex problems. It does not mean thinking like a computer, because after all computers cannot think. Computational thinking is broken down into 4 key areas, Decomposition, Pattern Recognition, Abstraction and Algorithms.

• Is recognising patterns or similarities when something is decomposed. For example both flying insects, birds and airplanes all have wings.

• Is the process of removing unnecessary details from a decomposed problem. This allows us to focus only on the problem.

• Is developing a step-by-step solution to the problem, or the rules to follow to solve the problem