Paper 2

Question 1

Abstraction

Answer 1

The goal of “abstracting” data is to reduce complexity by removing unnecessary information. At some level, we all think of computers in abstract terms.

Question 2

Decomposition

Answer 2

Decompotion involves the breaking down of a problem into smaller, simpler, simple steps or stages.

Question 3

Linear search

Answer 3

When data is unsorted, the only sensible option when searching for a particular item is to start at the beginning and look at every item until you find the one you want.

Question 4

Binary search

Answer 4

It works by repeatedly dividing in half the portion of the data list that could contain the required data item. This is continued until there is only one item in the list.

Question 5

Bubble sort

Answer 5

A bubble sort works by repeatedly going through the list to be sorted, comparing each pair of adjacent elements. Moving the largest item to the end.

Question 6

Insertion sort

Answer 6

The algorthium takes one data item form the list and places it in the correct location in the list. The process is repeated until there are no more unsorted data items in the list.

Question 7

Merge sort

Answer 7

This is a two stage sort. In the first stage, the list is successively divoded in half, forming two sublists, until each sublist is of length one.

Question 8

Flow diagrams

Answer 8

Flow diagram is a collective term for a diagram representing a flow or set of dynamic relationships in a system.

Question 9

Start/End (flow chart)

Answer 9

Oval

Question 10

Process box

Answer 10

Rectangle

Question 11

Input/Output (flow chart)

Answer 11

Rhombus

Question 12

Decision box (flow charts)

Answer 12

Diamond

Question 13

Sequence

Answer 13

Sequence is just a matter of writing the steps down in the order they need to happen.

Question 14

Iteration

Answer 14

There are three basic iteration (loop) constructs that you will learn when you program.

Question 15

Logic errors

Answer 15

When the program is running it doesn’t do quite what was expected.

Question 16

Syntax error

Answer 16

Since computer programs must follow strict syntax to compile correctly, any aspects of the code that do not conform to the syntax of the programming language will produce a syntax error.

Question 17

Interpreter

Answer 17

An interpreter is used to translate high-level language code into machine code. It translates each line of sorce code and then executes it.

Question 18

Compiler

Answer 18

Translates a program written in a high level programming language into machine code. It translates the whole code in one go, execpt if there is an error.

Question 19

Assembler

Answer 19

Converts assembly language into machine code. This is a simple conversion as, in general, every assembly language instruction is translated into a single machine code instruction.

Question 20

Sample

Answer 20

Is a measure of amplitude at a point in time.

Question 21

Sample resolution

Answer 21

Is the number of bits used to store each sample.

Question 22

Sample rate

Answer 22

Is the frequency with which you record the amplitude of the sound, the number of samples per second.

Question 23

Sample size

Answer 23

The number of seconds over which the sample was taken

Question 24

Bitmap image

Answer 24

If the size of a picture is increased, then more pixels will need to be stored. This increase the size of the image file.

Question 25

Colour depth

Answer 25

Alternatively referred to as bit depth, pixel depth, color depth refers to the number of bits per pixel on a computer monitor to represent a specific color. The more bits per pixel, the higher color variety and quality of the monitor.