2.1 Algorithms

“The thought processes behind formulating a problem and expressing its solution(s) so that a human or machine can effectively carry it out.”

• Computational thinking
• Bubble sort
• Linear search
• Binary search

“The process of separating ideas from specific instances of those ideas at work. Computational structures are defined by their meanings while hiding away the details of how they work. Abstraction tries to factor out details from a common pattern so programmers can work close to the level of human thought, leaving out details that matter in practice but are immaterial to the problem being solved.”

• Abstraction
• Merge sort
• Sorting algorithm
• Linear search

“The process by which a complex problem or system is broken down into parts that are easier to conceive, understand, program and maintain.”

• Decomposition
• Insertion sort
• Bubble sort
• Sorting algorithm

“A way of getting to a solution by identifying the steps required.”

• Algorithmic thinking
• Computational thinking
• Merge sort
• Bubble sort

“Any information or data that is fed into a system.”

• Problem inputs
• Abstraction
• Insertion sort
• Merge sort

“Anything that happens to data while a system is running – e.g., calculations.”

• Problem processes
• Decomposition
• Computational thinking
• Insertion sort

“Any information or data that leaves a system.”

• Problem outputs
• Algorithmic thinking
• Abstraction
• Computational thinking

“A diagram that looks like an upside-down tree with one node at the top (root) and many below. Used when designing solutions to problems to help break a large problem down into a number of smaller parts.”

• Structure diagram
• Problem inputs
• Decomposition
• Abstraction

“A language-independent description of the steps of an algorithm. Intended for humans to express and design algorithms before coding.”

• Pseudocode
• Problem processes
• Algorithmic thinking
• Decomposition

“A method of designing algorithms using symbols before coding.”

• Flowchart
• Problem outputs
• Problem inputs
• Algorithmic thinking