7 Algorithm design and problem solving

Question 1

Stages of the program development life cycle (4)

Answer 1

analysis, design, coding, and testing

Question 2

Analysis

Answer 2

abstraction, decomposition of the problem, identification of the problem and requirements

Question 3

Design

Answer 3

decomposition, structure diagrams, flowcharts, pseudocode

Question 4

Coding

Answer 4

writing program code and iterative testing

Question 5

Testing

Answer 5

testing program code with the use of test data

Question 6

What can a problem be decomposed into (4)

Answer 6

inputs
processes
outputs
storage

Question 7

What are the methods to design and construct a solution to a problem (3)

Answer 7

structure diagrams
flowcharts
pseudocode

Question 8

What are the standard methods of solution (5)

Answer 8

linear search
bubble sort
totalling
counting
finding maximum, minimum, and average values

Question 9

What are the types of validation checks (6)

Answer 9

range check
length check
type check
presence check
format check
check digit

Question 10

What is a range check

Answer 10

checks that the value of a number is between an upper value and a lower vcalue

Question 11

What is a length check

Answer 11

checks that the data entered is a reasonable number or an exact number of characters

Question 12

What is a type check

Answer 12

checks that the data entered is of a given data type

Question 13

What is a presence check

Answer 13

checks to ensure that some data has been entered and the value has not been left blank

Question 14

What is a format check

Answer 14

checks that the characters entered conform to a pre-defined pattern

Question 15

What are the types of verification checks (2)

Answer 15

visual check
double entry check

Question 16

What is a visual check

Answer 16

a manual check to ensure the data on the screen is the same as the form

Question 17

What is a double entry check

Answer 17

the data is entered twice and compared to ensure both entries are the same

Question 18

What are the types of test data (4)

Answer 18

normal
abnormal
extreme
boundary

Question 19

Normal data meaning

Answer 19

test data that is accepted and the algorithm is expected to work with

Question 20

Abnormal data meaning

Answer 20

test data that is rejected by the algorithm as not suitable

Question 21

Boundary data meaning

Answer 21

at each boundary two values are required; one value is accepted and the other value is rejected

Question 22

Extreme data meaning

Answer 22

the largest and smallest values that normal data can take