COMPUTER
SCIENCE
COVERED BASICS ABOUT
ALGORITHMS AND FLOWCHARTS
ALGORITHMS AND FLOWCHARTS
A typical programming task can be divided
into two phases:
Problem solving phase
produce an ordered sequence of steps that describe
solution of problem
this sequence of steps is called an algorithm
Implementation phase
implement the program in some programming
language
STEPS IN PROBLEM SOLVING
First
produce a general algorithm (one
can use pseudo code)
Refinethe algorithm successively to get
step by step detailed algorithm that is
very close to a computer language.
Pseudo code is an artificial and informal
language that helps programmers develop
algorithms. Pseudo code is very similar to
everyday English.
PSEUDOCODE & ALGORITHM
Example 1: Write an algorithm to determine a
students final grade and indicate whether it is
passing or failing. The final grade is calculated as
the average of four marks.
PSEUDOCODE & ALGORITHM
Pseudo code:
Input a set of 4 marks
Calculate their average by summing and
dividing by 4
if average is below 50
Print FAIL
else
Print PASS
PSEUDOCODE & ALGORITHM
Detailed Algorithm
Step 1: Input M1,M2,M3,M4
Step 2: GRADE (M1+M2+M3+M4)/4
Step 3: if (GRADE < 50) then
Print FAIL
else
Print PASS
endif
THE FLOWCHART
(Dictionary) A schematic representation of a
sequence of operations, as in a manufacturing
process or computer program.
(Technical) A graphical representation of the
sequence of operations in an information system
or program. Information system flowcharts show
how data flows from source documents through
the computer to final distribution to users.
Program flowcharts show the sequence of
instructions in a single program or subroutine.
Different symbols are used to draw each type of
flowchart.
THE FLOWCHART
A Flowchart
shows logic of an algorithm
emphasizes individual steps and their
interconnections
e.g. control flow from one action to the next
FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
Basic
Name Symbol Use in Flowchart
Oval Denotes the beginning or end of the program
Parallelogram Denotes an input operation
Rectangle Denotes a process to be carried out
e.g. addition, subtraction, division etc.
Diamond Denotes a decision (or branch) to be made.
The program should continue along one of
two routes. (e.g. IF/THEN/ELSE)
Hybrid Denotes an output operation
Flow line Denotes the direction of logic flow in the program
EXAMPLE 1
START
Step 1: Input M1,M2,M3,M4
Step 2: GRADE (M1+M2+M3+M4)/4
Input
M1,M2,M3,M4
Step 3: if (GRADE <50) then
Print FAIL
else
GRADE(M1+M2+M3+M4)/4 Print PASS
endif
N IS Y
GRADE<5
0
PRINT PRINT
PASS FAIL
STOP
EXAMPLE 2
Write an algorithm and draw a flowchart to
convert the length in feet to centimeter.
Pseudo code:
Input the length in feet (Lft)
Calculate the length in cm (Lcm) by multiplying
LFT with 30
Print length in cm (LCM)
Algorithm Flowchart
Step 1: Input Lft
START
Step 2: Lcm Lft x 30
Step 3: Print Lcm Input
Lft
Lcm Lft x 30
Print
Lcm
STOP
EXAMPLE 3
Write an algorithm and draw a
flowchart that will read the two sides
of a rectangle and calculate its area.
Pseudocode
Input the width (W) and Length (L) of a
rectangle
Calculate the area (A) by multiplying L
with W
Print A
Algorithm START
Step 1: Input W,L
Step 2: AL x W Input
W, L
Step 3: Print A
ALxW
Print
A
STOP
EXAMPLE 4
Write an algorithm and draw a flowchart
that will calculate the roots of a quadratic
equation
ax 2 bx c 0
b 2 4ac
Hint: d = sqrt ( ), and the roots are:
x1 = (b + d)/2a and x2 = (b d)/2a
Pseudo code:
Input the coefficients (a, b, c) of the quadratic
equation
Calculate d
Calculate x1
Calculate x2
Print x1 and x2
START
Algorithm:
Input
Step 1: Input a, b, c a, b, c
Step 2: d sqrt ( b b 4 a c )
Step 3: x1 (b + d) / (2 x a) d sqrt(b x b 4 x a x c)
Step 4: x2 (b d) / (2 x a) x1 (b + d) / (2 x a)
Step 5: Print x1, x2
X2 (b d) / (2 x a)
Print
x1 ,x2
STOP
DECISION STRUCTURES
The expression A>B is a logical expression
it describes a condition we want to test
ifA>B is true (if A is greater than B) we
take the action on left
print the value of A
ifA>B is false (if A is not greater than B)
we take the action on right
print the value of B
DECISION STRUCTURES
Y N
is
A>B
Print Print
A B
IFTHENELSE STRUCTURE
The structure is as follows:
If condition then
true alternative
else
false alternative
endif
IFTHENELSE STRUCTURE
The algorithm for the flowchart is as follows:
If A>B then
print A
else
Y N
print B is
A>B
endif
Print Print
A B
RELATIONAL OPERATORS
Relational Operators
Operator Description
> Greater than
< Less than
= Equal to
Greater than or equal to
Less than or equal to
Not equal to
EXAMPLE 5
Write an algorithm that reads two values,
determines the largest value and prints the
largest value with an identifying message.
ALGORITHM
Step 1: Input VALUE1, VALUE2
Step 2: if (VALUE1 > VALUE2) then
MAX VALUE1
else
MAX VALUE2
endif
Step 3: Print The largest value is, MAX
START
Input
VALUE1,VALUE2
Y is
N
VALUE1>VALUE2
MAX VALUE1 MAX VALUE2
Print
The largest value is,
MAX
STOP
NESTED IFS
One of the alternatives within an IFTHEN
ELSE statement
may involve further IFTHENELSE statement
EXAMPLE 6
Write an algorithm that reads three numbers
and prints the value of the largest number.
Step 1: Input N1, N2, N3
Step 2: if (N1>N2) then
if (N1>N3) then
MAX N1 [N1>N2, N1>N3]
else
MAX N3 [N3>N1>N2]
endif
else
if (N2>N3) then
MAX N2 [N2>N1, N2>N3]
else
MAX N3 [N3>N2>N1]
endif
endif
Step 3: Print The largest number is, MAX
EXAMPLE 7
Write and algorithm and draw a flowchart to
a) read an employee name (NAME), overtime
hours worked (OVERTIME), hours absent
(ABSENT) and
b) determine the bonus payment (PAYMENT).
Step 1: Input NAME,OVERTIME,ABSENT
Step 2: if (OVERTIME(2/3)*ABSENT > 40) then
PAYMENT 50
else if (OVERTIME(2/3)*ABSENT > 30) then
PAYMENT 40
else if (OVERTIME(2/3)*ABSENT > 20) then
PAYMENT 30
else if (OVERTIME(2/3)*ABSENT > 10) then
PAYMENT 20
else
PAYMENT 10
endif
Step 3: Print Bonus for, NAME is $, PAYMENT
Bonus Schedule
OVERTIME (2/3)*ABSENT Bonus Paid
>40 hours $50
>30 but 40 hours $40
>20 but 30 hours $30
>10 but 20 hours $20
10 hours $10
THANK YOU.
