CS Test 1

Define a computing agent

A person, place or thing carrying out an algorithm

What was the name of the first commercially sold computer?

UNIVAC I

List the 3 operations used to construct algorithms.

Conditional, sequential, iterative

List 2 of the 1st high level programming languages

FORTRAN, COBOL

Define a formal algorithm

A finite, specific set of instructions used to solve a problem

All modern computers use which architecture?

Von Neumann architecture

Define variable

A memory location whose value can change

Define pseudocode

Used to design an algorithm prior to coding

Define conditional statement

Asks a question and selects from alternative options

Define analysis of algorithms

The study of the efficiency of algorithms

Define intractable

Problems with no polynomial bounded solutions

Define selection sort

Finds the smallest element and moves it to the front

Define binary search

List of ordered pairs; starts in middle; splits range into two with each comparison

Define data cleanup

The fixing/removing of inaccurate, incomplete, or irrelevant data

Define data compression

The storing of data in a reduced size form to save space and time

Define lossless compression

Data that can be perfectly restored

Define lossy compression

Data that cannot be perfectly restored

What is a transistor?

A semiconductor device used to switch and amplify electrical signals/power

What is a gate?

An electronic device that operates on inputs to produce outputs

What is a circuit?

Has gates connected by wires, and has input and output wires

System software is a collection of programs to…

Manage resources on the computer and be an intermediary between user and hardware.

What is the most important piece of software?

Operating system

What is a digital version of a physical computer?

Virtual machine

List 3 Operating System key tasks.

User interface, scheduling of programs, and system safety

Which language is machine specific?

Assembly language

LOAD X →

Value from M(X) to R

STORE X →

Value from R to M(X)

COMPARE X →

Compare R with M(X) (equal/greater/less)

ADD X →

Add M(X) to R