Algorithm Representation Tools
What does an oval symbol represent in a flowchart?
Convert the following pseudo code into a flowchart:
1 2 3 4 5 6 | INPUT age IF age >= 18 THEN OUTPUT "Eligible to vote" ELSE OUTPUT "Not eligible" ENDIF |
Optimize the following pseudo code to check if a number is prime:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | INPUT n isPrime = TRUE FOR i = 2 TO n-1 IF n MOD i = 0 THEN isPrime = FALSE ENDIF ENDFOR |
Write pseudo code to assign a grade based on a score (90-100: A, 80-89: B, below 80: C).
When is a switch/case statement preferred over If-Else?
Answers and Descriptions
Answer: An oval symbol represents the start or end of a flowchart. Description: Flowcharts use standardized symbols to visualize algorithms. The oval marks the entry or exit point, clearly defining the algorithm’s boundaries.
Answer: Start (Oval) → Input age (Parallelogram) → Decision (Diamond: age >= 18?) → Yes: Output "Eligible to vote" (Rectangle) → No: Output "Not eligible" (Rectangle) → End (Oval). Description: Converting pseudo code to a flowchart reinforces understanding of both tools. The flowchart visually represents the decision-making process for voting eligibility.
Answer:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | INPUT n isPrime = TRUE FOR i = 2 TO SQRT(n) IF n MOD i = 0 THEN isPrime = FALSE BREAK ENDIF ENDFOR |
Description: Optimizing pseudo code reduces iterations. Checking up to the square root of n and breaking when a divisor is found improves efficiency for prime number checks.
Answer:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 | INPUT score IF score >= 90 THEN grade = 'A' ELSE IF score >= 80 THEN grade = 'B' ELSE grade = 'C' ENDIF OUTPUT grade |
Description: The If-Else-EndIf structure evaluates conditions to assign grades, demonstrating selection control structures for multi-condition logic.
Answer: Switch/case is preferred when a single variable is tested against multiple fixed values. Description: Switch/case simplifies code for checking a variable (e.g., day of the week) against constants, improving readability over multiple If-Else statements.