Developing an Algorithm

The Structure Theorem:

The Structured Theorem forms the basic framework for structured

programming; it states that it is possible to write any computer
program by using only three basic control structures: sequence,
selection and repetition

The three basic control structures:

Sequence:

The sequence control structure is the straightforward execution of

one processing step after another. In an algorithm, we represent
this construct as a sequence of pseudocode statements:
Statement a
Statement b
Statement c
Each of these instructions is executed in the order in which it
appears. These instructions are usually one of the first four basic
operations: to receive information, put out information, perform
arithmetic, and assign values.

Selection:
The selection control structure is the representation of a condition
and the choice between two actions. The choice depending on
whether the condition is true or false. This construct represents the
decision-making abilities of the computer and represents the fifth
operation, namely to compare two variables and selected one of
two alternate actions. In pseudocode, selection is represented by
the keywords: IF, THEN, ELSE and ENDIF
IF condition is true THEN
Statement(s) in true case
ELSE
Statement(s) in false case
ENDIF
If the condition is true then the statement or statements in the true
case will be executed, and the statements in the false case will be
skipped. Otherwise, (the ELSE statement) the statements in the
true case will be skipped and the statements in the false case will
be executed.
In either case, control then passes to the next processing step after
the delimiter ENDIF.
Example:
IF student is part_time THEN
Add 1 to part_time_count
ELSE
Add 1 to full_time_count
ENDIF

Display part_time_count
Display full_time_count
A variation of the selection control structure is the null ELSE
structure, which is used when a task is performed only if a
particular condition is true.
The null ELSE construct is written in pseudocode as:
IF condition is true THEN
Statement(s) in true case
ENDIF

Example:
IF today_temperature greater than 95
Display “ Another hot day”
ENDIF
 Display “Have a nice day”

Note that there is no keyword ELSE. This construct tests the

condition in the IF clause and if it is found to be true, performs the
statement or statements listed in the THEN clause. However, if the
initial condition is false, no action will be taken and processing
will proceed to the next statement after the ENDIF

Repetition:
The repetition control structure can be defined as the presentation
of a set of instructions to be performed repeatedly, as long as a
condition is true. The basic idea of repetitive code is that a block of
statements is executed again and again, until a terminating
condition occurs. It is written in pseudocode as:

WHILE condition is true, DO

Statement block

ENDWHILE

WHILE loop is a leading decision loop; that is the condition is

tested before any statements are executed.
If the condition in the WHILE loop is found to be true, the block of
statements following the condition is executed once. The delimiter
ENDWHILE then triggers a return of control to the retesting of the
condition. If the condition is still true, the statement block is
repeated, and so the repetition process continues until the condition
is no longer true.

It is imperative that at least one statement within the statement

block can alter the condition and eventually renders it false.
Otherwise, the logic may result in an endless loop.

Set student_total to 0
WHILE student_total < 50
Re ad Student Re cord ⎫
Pr int Student name, address ⎪⎪
⎬ Statement Block
Add 1 to student _ total ⎪
⎪⎭

ENDWHILE
Points to remember:

a. The variable student_total is initialized before the WHILE condition is executed.

b. As long as the student_total is less than 50 (the WHILE condition is true), the
statement block will be executed.
c. Each time the statement block is executed, one instruction within the block will cause
the variable student_total to be incremented.
d. After 50 iteration, student_total will equal 50, which causes the WHILE condition to
become false and the repetition to cease.
e. Initialization and subsequent incrementing of the variable tested in the condition is an
essential feature of the WHILE construct.

Defining the problem:

The first step and one of the most important is defining the problem. To help in this initial
analysis, the problem is divided into three separate components:
1. Input: a list of the source data provided to the problem.
2. Output: A list of the output required
3. Processing: a list of actions needed to produce the required outputs.

When reading the problem statement, you can identify the inputs as the data that is either given
or read by the program, and outputs are usually the expected result(s) after processing.
Usually, inputs and outputs are expressed as nouns or adjectives.
The actions needed for processing are usually specified in the problem statement as verbs.

When solving a problem:

-Underline all the nouns and adjectives in the problem statement.
-Look at the underlined nouns and decide which are inputs and which are outputs.

Example:
A program is required to read three numbers, add them together and print their total

Our example would look like:

A program is required to read three numbers, add them together and print their total

We use a simple diagram called a defining diagram to put the information:

Input Processing Output

Second, underline (in a different color) the verbs and adverbs used in the specification. This will
establish the actions required. The sentence should look like this:

A program is required to read three numbers, add them together and print their total

Input Processing Output

Now that all the nouns and verbs in the specification have been considered and the defining g
diagram is complete , the problem has been properly defined. That is we now understand the
input to the problem, the output to be produced and the processing steps required to convert the
input to the output.

Selecting Meaningful names:

In defining the problem, it is a good idea to introduce unique names, which will be used to
represent the variables in the problem and describe the processing steps. All names should be
meaningful. A name given to a variable is simply a method of identifying a particular storage
location in the computer. The uniqueness of the name will differentiate it from other locations.
The name should be transparent enough to adequately describe the variable.
When it comes to writing down the processing components of the diagram, we use words that
describe the work to be done or action words. These actions describe single specific actions:

Read three numbers

Add numbers together
Print total number
Example 2:

Find average temperature:

Write a program that prompts the user for a maximum and a minimum temperature readings on a
particular day and calculate and display to the screen the simple average temperature calculated
by (maximum temperature + minimum temperature) / 2

First, establish the input and output components:

Write a program that prompts the user for a maximum and a minimum temperature readings on a
particular day, get those readings, and calculate and display to the screen the simple average
temperature calculated by (maximum temperature + minimum temperature) / 2

Input Processing Output

Now, establish, the processing steps by underlying the verbs:

Write a program that prompts the user for a maximum and a minimum temperature readings on a
particular day, get those readings, and calculate and display to the screen the simple average
temperature calculated by (maximum temperature + minimum temperature) / 2

The processing verbs are : prompt, get, calculate, and display. By finding the associated
objects to these verbs, we specify the defining diagram:

Input Processing Output

Max_temperature Prompt for temperature Average_temperature

Min_temp Get max, min temperatures
Calculate average temperature
Display average temperature

At this stage, we are only concerned with the fact that the simple average temperature must be
calculated and not how the calculation will be performed.

For the following exercises, define the problem by constructing a defining diagram:
1. We require an algorithm that prompts the user for two integers. The program
receives the integers and display to the screen their sum, difference, product and quotient.
2. Construct an algorithm that will prompt the user to input three characters, receive
those three characters and displays a welcoming message to the screen such as:
“Hello xxx! We hope you have a nice day”

Designing a solution Algorithm:

Designing a solution algorithm is one of the most challenging tasks in the life cycle of a program.
Once the problem has been properly defined, we start with a rough sketch of the steps required to
solve the problem.
- Look at the defining diagram
-Using the three structures defined in the theorem (Sequence, Selection and Repetition), attempt
to establish how the processing will take place.
-This process is a trial and error process, and you will be adding, deleting or altering an
instructions or even discarding the solution and starting gain, until you get a working algorithm.

IF THE ALGORITHM IS NOT CORRECT, THE PROGRAM NEVER WILL BE.

Example 1:

Input Processing total

number_1 Read three numbers total
number_2 Add numbers together
number_3 Print total number

This diagram shows what is required, and a simple calculation will establish how. The solution
algorithm looks as follows:

Add_three_numbers
Read number_1, number_2, number_3
total = number_1 + number_2 + number_3
Print total
END

Points to remember:

- A name has been given to the algorithm; Add_three_numbers

- An END statement at the end of the algorithm indicates that the algorithm is complete.
- Each processing step in the defining diagram relates directly to one or more statements in the
algorithm.

Example 2:

A program is required to prompt the user for the maximum and minimum temperature readings
on a particular day, accept those readings as integers, and calculate and display to the screen the
simple average temperature, calculated by (maximum temperature + minimum temperature) / 2

Defining diagram:

Input Processing Output

max_temp Prompt for temperatures
avg_temp
min_temp Get max, min temperature

Calculate average temperature

Display average temperature

Solution algorithm

Find_average_temperature
Prompt user for max_temp, min_temp
 Get max_temp, min_temp
avg_temp = (max_temp + min_temp) / 2
Output avg_temp to the screen
END