Chapter 9: Algorithms and Programming

Individual items

Individual items

________ in a list are called elements and are accessed by position using an index.

REMOVE command

The ________ deletes the element at the provided index position and shifts the remaining elements one position to the left.

Integers

________ can be used in mathematical operations and expressions, whereas strings (text fields) can not.

Modulus math

________ uses division but only provides the remainder as the answer, not the quotient.

CAN_MOVE

________ can be used in an IF statement in your code to navigate through the maze.

single equals

In many programming languages, a(n) ________ sign,=, is used as the assignment operator.

Procedural abstraction

________: You only need to know the name of the procedure, the number and type of parameters, and the output to expect.

commands

There are four ________ you are responsible for understanding and using.

Algorithms

________ have the potential to solve many problems once the programs are written for them to run.

Readability

________ is important to help programmers understand a program.

MOD

________ is the symbol used for modulus math in many programming languages.

Pseudocode

________ can not run on computers and needs to be translated to a programming language to do so.

Variables

________ are placeholders for values a program needs to use.

triangle

The ________ represents the robots starting point and the direction it is facing.

Procedures

________ have an optional feature called a return statement.

decidable problem

A(n) ________ is one where an algorithm can be written that results in a correct "yes "or "no "answer for all inputs.

REPEAT

The code that is repeated is indented underneath the ________ statement and within the braces, { }, just like with the IF /ELSE statements.

Clarity

________ refers to how easy it is to understand.

Relational operators

________ are used with Boolean values.

INPUT

________): (It accepts data from the user, usually from the keyboard.

text fields

A program may need variables for numbers, both integers and real numbers, as well as ________ and Boolean values.

INSERT command

The ________ causes elements to the right of the indicated index position, i, to shift right one position to make room for the new element.

Expressions

________ are calculations to be evaluated to an answer or single value.

API documentation

The ________ provides the information needed to set up the interface and use the newly connected software.

algorithm

is a set of steps to do a task.

Natural language

________ is our native speaking and writing language, so it is much easier for people to use and understand.

Multiple expressions

________ can be combined using the logical operators AND, OR, and NOT.

Parameters

________ allow the calling program to send values to the procedure.

Heuristic approach

________: This is an approach that may not be optimal or the best but is close enough to use as a solution.

Data types

________ are the way computers assign some meaning to these binary digits.

languages

Programming ________ are very strict with their syntax, which is like their grammar and structure.

Boolean values

________ are one of the foundations of computer code.

API

________ stands for "Application Programming Interface ..

operator

For the OR ________, either or both of the operands can be true for the condition to be true.

Efficiency

________ can be determined by mathematically proving it and informally measured by actually running it on datasets of different sizes and measuring how long it took and the memory resources needed.

optimization problem

A(n) ________ is one that should find the best solution for the problem.

random numbers

Generating ________ is a frequently needed feature in programs.

Algorithms

________ are implemented with software.

Pseudocode

________ is used to map out a programs structure before beginning to write the code and uses a combination of natural and programming languages.

Variables

________ are data abstractions because we do not need to know the details of how and where the values are stored in memory.

Integers

________ are whole numbers.

text fields

Strings are ________ that are just a series of characters and are denoted with quotation marks around the string field.

Procedures

________ are also called functions in some programming languages.

algorithm

A(n) ________ is a set of steps to do a task.

Variables

________ can be used in expressions, both mathematical and textual.

Algorithms

________ can be written in several ways.

There are four main data types you should understand for the exam

strings, integers, real (fractional) numbers, and Booleans

This loop will repeat a specified number of times

"n" is a variable that must be set to a positive integer for the loop to run

Combining Algorithms

One of the key features of algorithms is that once they are created, you can use them over and over, combine them for more complex problem solving, or modify them for a new use

LINEAR SEARCH

Linear searches, also called sequential searches, check each individual record, starting at the beginning and going to the end, one after the other in order to either find the desired data or to determine it is not in the dataset

BINARY SEARCH

Binary searches are far more efficient than linear searches

Procedural abstraction

You only need to know the name of the procedure, the number and type of parameters, and the output to expect

Built-in Procedures

Built-in procedures are prewritten and tested code that are included with the programming language

DISPLAY()

DISPLAY() is a built-in procedure used for this course on the exam

INPUT()

It accepts data from the user, usually from the keyboard

Simulations

Simulations are designed to represent and mirror the real world for testing

Heuristic approach

This is an approach that may not be optimal or the best but is close enough to use as a solution

Natural language

is our native speaking and writing language, so it is much easier for people to use and understand.

Programming languages

are very strict with their syntax, which is like their grammar and structure.

Pseudocode

is used to map out a program’s structure before beginning to write the code and uses a combination of natural and programming languages.

Flowcharting

helps to visualize how the program will be structured.

Clarity

refers to how easy it is to understand.

Readability

is important to help programmers understand a program.

Variables

are placeholders for values a program needs to use.

Data types

are the way computers assign some meaning to these binary digits.

Strings

are text fields that are just a series of characters and are denoted with quotation marks around the string field.

Integers

can be used in mathematical operations and expressions, whereas strings (text fields) cannot.

“Fractional” Numbers

These are numbers with a decimal point, even if a number has 0 (zero) for the decimal value, such as 52.0.

MOD

is the symbol used for modulus math in many programming languages.

Assignment Statements

To assign a value to a variable, the assignment operator is used.

Expressions

are calculations to be evaluated to an answer or single value.

Boolean Values

are one of the foundations of computer code.

Boolean expressions

can be simple or compound.

AND LOGICAL OPERATOR

To be true, both of the operands on either side of the AND operator must be true when evaluated individually.

OR LOGICAL OPERATOR

For the OR operator, either or both of the operands can be true for the condition to be true.

NOT LOGICAL OPERATOR

With the NOT operator, if a condition was true, then NOT makes it false.

Program Statements

All programs can be written using a combination of only three types of statements.

Sequential

These are statements that are executed as written in order in the program.

Selection Statements

These are a key component to many programs.

Iterative

are also referred to as repetitive statements or loops.

REPEAT n TIMES Loop

This loop will repeat a specified number of times: “n” is a variable that must be set to a positive integer for the loop to run.

REPEAT UNTIL (Condition) Loop

has a condition to evaluate at each iteration of the loop.

Combining Algorithms

One of the key features of algorithms is that once they are created, you can use them over and over, combine them for more complex problem solving, or modify them for a new use.

Common Algorithms

Determining the maximum or minimum number from two or more numbers.

Robots

There are four commands you are responsible for understanding and using.

MOVE_FORWARD

One command the robot can follow is

CAN_MOVE

can be used in an IF statement in your code to navigate through the maze.

Lists

in a program can be a collection of numbers, words, phrases, or a combination of these.

List Indices

Individual items in a list are called elements and are accessed by position using an index.

Index positions

are always integers and are enclosed within square brackets [index].

INSERT

command causes elements to the right of the indicated index position, i, to shift right one position to make room for the new element.

APPEND

command will add the new element to the end of the list, so no index position is needed.

REMOVE

command deletes the element at the provided index position and shifts the remaining elements one position to the left.

Traversing

a loop that will automatically repeat the code for each element in the list.

Searching

deals with finding the needed element from everything in the dataset or determining that it is not there.

Linear searches

also called sequential searches, check each individual record, starting at the beginning and going to the end, one after the other in order to either find the desired data or to determine it is not in the dataset.

Binary searches

are far more efficient than linear searches.

Procedures

are also called functions in some programming languages.

Parameters

allow the calling program to send values to the procedure.

Procedural abstraction

You only need to know the name of the procedure, the number and type of parameters, and the output to expect.