Algorithm and Flowchart Design Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards defining fundamental programming concepts, program structures, flowchart symbols, constants, variables, and expressions from the Mapúa University lecture slides.

A step-by-step procedure in solving a problem and a list of sequence procedures for carrying out a particular task, representing a high-level solution without following grammatical rules.

Algorithm

A straight English format or English-like representation used by programmers to plan the logical steps for solving a programming problem.

Pseudocode

The diagrammatic or pictorial representation of a sequence of events, drawn with conventional symbols representing different types of events and their interconnections.

Flowcharting

A type of flowchart that presents the total picture of a process without worrying about taking care of every detail.

System Flowchart

A type of flowchart that depicts a main segment of a complete computer program.

Program Flowchart

A literal value that does not change during program execution, which can be of numeric or string type.

Constant

A constant that may be an integer (whole number) or a real number (with a decimal place) and may be preceded by a positive or negative sign, containing no extraneous characters like commas or currency symbols.

Numeric Constant

A character or group of characters enclosed entirely in double quotation marks ("), containing numbers, letters, or special characters.

String Constant

A portion of the computer's main memory used to store a numeric or string constant, identified by a unique name and holding only one value at a given time.

Variable

A group of program elements consisting of operands (constants, variables, or array elements) and operators (arithmetic, logical, relational, or string) that yields a value of a certain type.

Expression

The priority order of arithmetic operators:

1.) Expressions in parenthesis,

2.) \*, $/$, $\%$,

3.) $+$, $-$.

Arithmetic Expression Hierarchy

The priority order of logical operators:

1.) Expressions in parenthesis,

2.) Not (!),

3.) And (&&),

4.) Or (||).

Logical Expression Hierarchy

A program logic structure where steps are executed sequentially, generally involving input, processing, and output steps.

Sequential Program Structure

A program logic structure that uses conditional statements (such as if-then-else) to execute specific blocks of statements based on evaluated true or false conditions.

Selection/Conditional Program Structure

A program logic structure that repeatedly executes a block of statements while a specific condition remains true (such as a while-do loop).

Iterative/Repetition Program Structure

(pictorial representations)

Flowchart

a straight English format.

Pseudocode

(English-like representations)are used by programmers to plan the logical steps for solving a programming problem

pseudocode

Some professional programmers prefer writing pseudocode to drawing flowcharts, because

using pseudocode is more similar to writing final statements in programming language

4 general logic

1. Sequential

2. Branching

3. Looping

4. Combination

A variable may be one of the following:

Numeric, String, Array

String expression example

1. “3” + “4” = “34”

2. “Glo” + “ren” = “Gloren”

three main processing steps

- input, process, output

flowchart symbol used for a connector

circle

what flowchart symbol represents a decision

diamond

what flowchart symbol represents input / output

parallelogram

program structure executes statements in order

sequential

symbol for start and end

oval

step by step process

algorithm

structure used for choosing between alternative

conditional structure or selection structure

structure that repeats block of statements

iterative structure / repetition

used for fixed number of repetition

for loop

which loop checks the condition before executing

while loop

which loop checks the condition after executing

do while loop

purpose of top down design

break complex problems into smaller components

what is stepwise refinement

gradually adding details to a solution

what type of flowchart shows the overall system process

system flowchart

what type of flowchart focuses on program logic

program flowchart

IPO

input process output

main purpose of pseudocode

describe algorithms without
programming syntax

T / F - algorithm is a graphical representation of a process

False

T / F - pseudocode must follow strict programming syntax

false

T / F - the rectangle symbol represents processing

true

T / F - diamond symbol represents input/output

false

T / F - parallelogram represents input/output

true

T / F - for loop is for fixed number iterations

true

what loop is for fixed number of iterations

for loop

T / F - while loop is a pre test loop

true

which loop is a pre test loop

while loop

T / F - do while loop is a post test loop

True

which loop is a post test loop

do while

T / F - selection structures are used for decision making

TRUE

structures are used for decision making

selection structures

T / F -sequential structure involve repetition

false

data processing cycle

input , process output

T / F - data processing cycle is input process output

TRUE

T / F - top down design increases problem complexity

FALSE

T / F - system flowcharts focus only on one program's logic

FALSE

T / F - algorithms can be represented with pseudo and flowchart

TRUE

which symbol represents a decision

DIAMOND

represents processing symbol

RECTANGLE

represents input output

PARALLELOGRAM

which loop executes atleast once

DO WHILE LOOP

9/5 using "int"

1

4.0/5.0 using "double"

1.25

multiple paths

CONDITIONAL

top to bottom

sequential

first stage of data processing cycle

INPUT

second stage of data processing cycle

PROCESS

sample of sequencial structure

farenheit= 9/5 + celsius + 32

main purpose of pseudo

-logic without syntax