Problem Solving & Algorithmic Reasoning

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts of problem solving, logic representation, flowcharts, pseudocode, test case design, and debugging.

Problem Solving

The process of understanding a problem and finding a step-by-step solution.

Input (Problem Component)

The data given to solve a problem.

Process (Problem Component)

The sequence of steps or operations performed on the input.

Output (Problem Component)

The final result produced after processing the input.

Problem Decomposition

The practice of breaking a large or complex problem into smaller sub-problems to make it easier to understand, code, debug, and modify.

Step-Wise Refinement

A technique of writing a solution by starting from high-level general steps and systematically expanding them into detailed, logical sequence steps.

Algorithm

A finite, unambiguous, logical, and correct sequence of step-by-step instructions designed to solve a specific problem.

Flowchart

A graphical representation of an algorithm that uses standard geometric shapes to represent actions and arrows to show flow and relationships.

Start/Stop Symbol

An oval flowchart shape used at the beginning and end of an algorithm to signify program start and termination.

Process Symbol

A rectangular flowchart symbol used to represent processing tasks, such as calculations and mathematical operations.

Input/Output Symbol

A parallelogram flowchart symbol used to indicate input reading and output display operations.

Decision Symbol

A diamond flowchart symbol used to represent conditional decision branching where the evaluation result is typically Yes or No.

Arrow Symbol

A directional line symbol in flowcharts used to depict execution order and connections between shapes.

On-page Connector Symbol

A circular symbol used to link separate parts of a flowchart that reside on the exact same page.

Off-page Connector Symbol

A flowchart shape used to connect sections of a flowchart that continue across different pages.

Document Symbol

A flowchart symbol indicating a physical or digital document, report, or file generated or referenced in a workflow.

Pseudocode

An informal, code-like step-by-step description of an algorithm written in plain English, structured for human understanding rather than compiler execution.

Test Case

A set of input values, expected outputs, and execution conditions used to verify whether a program functions correctly.

Test Case ID

A unique alphanumeric code assigned to identify a specific test case (e.g., TC-01).

Expected Output

The correct answer or outcome anticipated from a program for a specific set of test inputs.

Actual Output

The result produced by executing a program with test inputs during testing.

Valid Test Case

A test case containing proper and acceptable input values to verify that the program completes execution with the correct output.

Invalid Test Case

A test case containing improper, out-of-range, or unexpected inputs designed to verify that the program handles errors gracefully without crashing.

Boundary Test Case

A test case targeting edge values at the minimum, maximum, or exact operational thresholds of allowed input ranges.

Debugging

The systematic process of detecting, locating, understanding, fixing, and verifying errors or bugs in a program.

Syntax Error

An error caused by breaking programming language grammar rules, detected by the compiler before program execution.

Runtime Error

An error occurring during program execution, such as attempting a division by zero or opening a non-existent file.

Logical Error

A flaw in program reasoning that permits successful execution but produces incorrect results, typically requiring manual tracing or debugging tools to identify.

Manual Tracing

A step-by-step paper-based execution of an algorithm or program using sample data and a variable tracking table to verify logic.

Logic Refinement

The iterative improvement or correction of conditional logic in an algorithm to ensure it works correctly across all input scenarios.