FUNDAMENTALS

OF
COMPUTER SCIENCE
SECTION 3: ALGORITHMS
Algorithms
• Algorithm: a set of instructions that describe how to solve a
problem.

Input Algorithm Output

Algorithms
Algorithm Rules: Basics
• Algorithm writing rules:
• START represents the starting point of an algorithm
• READ is used to read input.
• To declare variables or perform operations on variables,
• Write the variable name followed by ‘=‘ followed by the new
value.
• PRINT is used to display output.
• END represents the end of an algorithm
Algorithm Rules: Basics
• Example: Write an algorithm to read two numbers x and y and print
their sum.
Algorithm Rules: Basics
• Example: Write an algorithm to read two numbers x and y and print
their sum.

• Answer:
1. START
2. READ x, y
3. sum = x + y
4. PRINT sum
5. END
Algorithm Rules: Basics
• Example 2: Write an algorithm to read a temperature C in Celsius
and convert it to Fahrenheit.
Algorithm Rules: Basics
• Example 2: Write an algorithm to read a temperature C in Celsius
and convert it to Fahrenheit.

• Answer:
1. START 𝑭𝒂𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒕 = 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒊𝒖𝒔 ∗
𝟗
+ 𝟑𝟐
𝟓
2. READ c
3. f = c * (9/5) + 32
4. PRINT f
5. END
Algorithm Rules: Basics
• Try yourself: Write an algorithm to read a number and flip its sign
(change from positive to negative or from negative to positive).
Algorithm Rules: Basics
• Try yourself: Write an algorithm to read a number and flip its sign
(change from positive to negative or from negative to positive).

• Answer:
1. START
2. READ n
3. n = n * -1
4. PRINT n
5. END
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• To perform a set of operation conditionally, we use the IF
statement.
• IF statement syntax:
1. IF condition
2. operation 1
Executed only if condition is true
3. operation 2..
4. ELSE
5. operation 4
Executed only if condition is false
6. operation 5..
7. ENDIF
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Example 1: Write an algorithm to read two numbers a, b and print
which number is larger than the other.
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Example 1: Write an algorithm to read two numbers a, b and print which
number is larger than the other.

• Answer:
1. START
2. READ a,b
3. IF a > b
4. PRINT “a is larger than b”
5. ELSE
6. PRINT “b is larger than a”
7. ENDIF
8. END
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Example 1: Write an algorithm to read two numbers a, b and print which
number is larger than the other.

• Answer:
1. START What is the output of the
2. READ a,b algorithm if
3. IF a > b 1)a = 7, b = 5 ?
4. PRINT “a is larger than b” 2)a = 3, b = 6 ?
5. ELSE
3)a = 2, b = 2 ?
6. PRINT “b is larger than a”
7. ENDIF
8. END
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Example 1: Write an algorithm to read two numbers a, b and print which
number is larger than the other.

• Answer:
1. START What is the output of the
2. READ a,b algorithm if
3. IF a > b 1)a = 7, b = 5 ? “a is larger than b”
4. PRINT “a is larger than b” 2)a = 3, b = 6 ? “b is larger than a”
5. ELSE
3)a = 2, b = 2 ? “b is larger than a”
6. PRINT “b is larger than a”
7. ENDIF
8. END
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Example 2: Given a student’s grade g, write an algorithm to
determine whether the student passed or failed (passing grade is
50).
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Example 2: Given a student’s grade g, write an algorithm to
determine whether the student passed or failed (passing grade is
50).
1. START
2. READ g
• Answer: 3. result = “”
4. IF g ≥ 50
5. result = “Pass”
6. ELSE
7. result = “Fail”
8. ENDIF
9. PRINT result
10. END
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Example 2: Given a student’s grade g, write an algorithm to
determine whether the student passed or failed (passing grade is
50).
1. START
2. READ g What is the output of the
• Answer: 3. result = “”
algorithm if
4. IF g ≥ 50 1)g = 75 ?
5. result = “Pass” 2)g = 40 ?
6. ELSE 3)g = 50 ?
7. result = “Fail”
8. ENDIF
9. PRINT result
10. END
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Example 2: Given a student’s grade g, write an algorithm to
determine whether the student passed or failed (passing grade is
50).
1. START
2. READ g What is the output of the
• Answer: 3. result = “”
algorithm if
4. IF g ≥ 50 1)g = 75 ? “Pass”
5. result = “Pass” 2)g = 40 ? “Fail”
6. ELSE 3)g = 50 ? “Pass”
7. result = “Fail”
8. ENDIF
9. PRINT result
10. END
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Try yourself: Write an algorithm that reads a number n (positive or
negative) and prints the absolute value of the number |n|.
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Try yourself: Write an algorithm that reads a number n (positive or
negative) and prints the absolute value of the number |n|.

• Answer: 1. START
2. READ n
3. IF n < 0
4. n = n * -1
5. ENDIF
6. PRINT n
7. END
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Try yourself: Write an algorithm that reads a number n (positive or
negative) and prints the absolute value of the number |n|.
What is the output of the
• Answer: 1. START
algorithm if
2. READ n 1)n = -5 ?
3. IF n < 0 2)n = 2 ?
4. n = n * -1
5. ENDIF
6. PRINT n
7. END
Algorithm Rules: Conditional
• Try yourself: Write an algorithm that reads a number n (positive or
negative) and prints the absolute value of the number |n|.
What is the output of the
• Answer: 1. START
algorithm if
2. READ n 1)n = -5 ? 5
3. IF n < 0 2)n = 2 ? 2
4. n = n * -1
5. ENDIF
6. PRINT n
7. END