11/25/2021

SWE 1301: Introduction to Lectures

Problem Solving and Software • 3 Credit Hour Course
Development
• Thursday – 2hrs

• Friday – 1 hr.

Lecture 01: Introduction

At:
Venue : CIT Theatre
Presented by: M .I. Mukhtar

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Course Objectives Course Description

• This course introduces students to a broad
• To enhance students critical thinking. range of approaches for solving problems.

• Emphasis is on problem solving techniques that

• To teach students standard problem solving aid programmers in developing quality software
techniques that aid in software development. systems.

• To aid learning of the course, concepts will be

illustrated using Python Programming
Language.

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Course Outline Course Reference Text

• Introduction to Problem solving. 1. Problem solving and programming concept by
• Problem solving concepts for computers. Maureen Sprankle and Jim Hubbard
• Solution Planning.
• Problem Solving with Sequential, Decision and 2. Problem solving and program design in c by
Loop Structure. Jeri R. Hanly and elliot B. Koffman
• Introduction to Software Development.

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Course Assessment Class Code

• CA – 30%

• Exams – 70%
 7 questions to answer 5 Instructions for students
• Visit www.edmodo.com from your phone or
computer or download the Edmodo App.

• Click on the "Join a group" button and enter the

code, .

• Follow the instructions to create an account and

get started on Edmodo!

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Lecture Outline What is a Problem?

• Problem solving & Its Importance • A problem is any unpleasant situation which
prevent people from achieving what they want to
• Problem solving in computers
achieve.

• Some problems are more detailed, complex and

critical than others.
• regardless of their size problems need to be
solved in a satisfactory way.

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Problem Solving Problem Solving..

• People make decisions every day to solve problems • Problem solving refers to our ability to solve
that affect their lives, homes or work place. problem in an effective and timely manner.

• Bad decisions to solve a problem usually leads to • an activity to eliminate problem.

wastage of time as well as resources.
• Involves been able to identify and generate
• The better the decisions an individual can make, solution to problems.
the more valuable that person will be.
• Problem solving is important because if you
learn problem solving you can approach many
academic disciplines as well as work anywhere.

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Problem Solving in Computing.. General problem Solving Steps

• There are generally six steps that are followed to
• Problem solving is one of the central activities ensure best decision when solving a problem:
performed by professional and learners in
computer related disciplines.
• Step 1: Identify the problem.
• Step 2: Understand the problem.
• Solving problems is the core of Computer
science and its related disciplines . • Step 3: Identify alternative ways to solve the
problem.
• Step 4: Select the best way to solve the
problem from the list of alternative solutions.
• Step 5: List instructions that enable you to
solve the problem using the selected solution.
• Step 6: Evaluate the solution.

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Step 1 : Identify the problem Step 2 : Understand the problem

• The first step toward solving a problem is to • Understanding a problem is the most
identify the problem. important and most challenging part of solving
a problem.
• you need to make sure you identify the
problem before you start solving it. • You need to gather complete and accurate
information.
• If you do not know what the problem is, you
cannot solve it. • If this step is not carried out properly, you will
solve the wrong problem.

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Step 3 : Identify alternative ways Step 4 : Select the best way

• The list of alternative ways to solve the problem • In this step, you need to identify and evaluate
should be as complete as possible. the advantage and disadvantage of each
possible solution before selecting the best one.
• Sometimes a problem solver may talk to other
people to find other solutions than those he/she • In order to do this, you need to select criteria for
have identified. the evaluation.

• Alternative solutions must be acceptable ones. • These criteria will serve as the guidelines for
evaluating each solution.

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Step 5 : List the Instruction. Step 6 : Evaluate the solution.

• This stage involve writing the step-by-step • This step involves testing a solution to check if it
instructions to solve the problem. is correct as well as to see if it satisfies the
needs of the person(s) with the problem.
• No instruction can be used unless the individual
or the machine can understand it. • If the result is either incorrect or unsatisfactory,
then the problem solver must:
• This can be very limiting, especially when • review the list of instructions to see that they
working with computers. are correct or
• start the process all over again.

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Types of Problem Simple Problems

• Simple problems have straightforward solutions.
• They require the problem solving steps to be
followed consecutively.
Problems
• Their solutions are called algorithmic
solutions.
• Algorithmic solutions are reached in a series of
steps.
Simple Difficult
• Example such as area a rectangle, product of
two (2) numbers.

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Difficult Problems Steps in Solving Difficult Problems

• Difficult problems do not always have
straightforward solutions
• They are hence solved by going through the
steps in a cyclic manner rather than
consecutively

• These solutions are called heuristic

solutions.

• Example how to expand company profits.

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Problem Solving Using Computers.. Difficulty with Problem Solving using

• Computers are built to deal with algorithmic
Computers
solutions, which are often difficult or very time • The problem-solving process is not easy. It takes
consuming for humans. practice and time to perfect, but in the long run
• Example: Sorting a list of 10,000 names in the process proves to be of great benefit.
alphabetical order is an easy task for the computer

• One of the most difficult tasks for the problem

• People are better than computers at developing solver when solving problems using computer is
heuristic solutions. writing the instructions.
• Example: how to recognize a face or a voice. • For example, most people cannot explain how they
arrive at certain answers such as the largest of three
• This course will deal only with algorithmic numbers.
problems and their solutions.
• The computer is a tool that will perform only tasks
that the user can explain.
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Difficulty with Problem Solving using Successful Degree

Computers ...
I want to be successful in Computer Related
• The computer has a specific system of Disciplines
communication that programmers and users must
learn.
Success begins in Introduction to Problem
Solving and Software Development
• This system demands that no step in the
solution to a problem is left unstated and that +
all steps be in the proper order. a bit of confidence, hard work, dedication
and willingness to learn new things.
• You must assume the computer knows nothing
except what you tell it and think of it as an
ignorant but efficient aid to solving problems.

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Lecture Summary
• A problem is any unpleasant situation which
prevent people from achieving what they want to
achieve.

• Problem solving refers to our ability to solve

problem in an effective and timely manner.
Questions??
• Problem solving is one of the central activities
performed by professional and learners in
computer related disciplines.

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