Computer Science 9618

9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Syllabus Content:
9.2. Algorithms
show understanding that an algorithm is a solution to a problem expressed as a sequence of
defined steps
use suitable identifier names for the representation of data used by a problem
o summarise identifier names using an identifier table
show understanding that many algorithms are expressed using the four basic constructs of
assignment, sequence, selection and repetition
show understanding that simple algorithms consist of input, process, output at various
stages
document a simple algorithm using:
o Structured English
o pseudocode (on the examination paper, any given pseudocode will be presented
using the Courier New font)
o program flowchart
derive pseudocode or a program flowchart from a structured English description of a
problem
derive pseudocode from a given program flowchart or vice versa
use the process of stepwise refinement to express an algorithm to a level of detail from
which the task may be programmed
decompose a problem into sub-tasks leading to the concept of a program module
(procedure/ function)
show an appreciation of why logic statements are used to define parts of an algorithm
solution
use logic statements to define parts of an algorithm solution

10.1 Data types

select appropriate data types for a problem solution
use in practical programming the data types that are common to procedural high-level
languages: integer, real, char, string, Boolean, date (pseudocode will use the following data
types: INTEGER, REAL, CHAR, STRING, BOOLEAN, DATE, ARRAY, FILE)
show understanding of how character and string data are represented by software including
the ASCII and Unicode character sets

10.2 Arrays
use the technical terms associated with arrays including upper and lower bound
select a suitable data structure (1D or 2D array) to use for a given task
use pseudocode for 1D and 2D arrays (pseudocode will use square brackets to contain the
array subscript, for example a 1D array as A[1:n] and a 2D array as C[1:m, 1:n])
write program code using 1D and 2D arrays
write algorithms/program code to process array data including:

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

1
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Syllabus Content:
11.1 Programming basics
Implement and write pseudocode from a given design presented as either a program
flowchart or structured English
Notes and guidance
Write pseudocode statements for implement and write a program from a given design
presented as either a program flowchart or pseudocode
write pseudocode for:
o the declaration of variables and constants
o the assignment of values to variables and constants
o expressions involving any of the arithmetic or logical operators
o input from the keyboard and output to the console given pseudocode will use the
following structures:
o DECLARE <identifier> : <data type> // declaration
o CONSTANT <identifier> = <value>
o <identifier> ← <value> or <expression> // assignment
o INPUT <identifier>
o OUTPUT <string> , OUTPUT <identifier(s)>

11.2 Constructs
Write pseudocode to write:

Selection
use an ‘IF’ structure including the ‘ELSE’ clause and nested IF statements
use a ‘CASE’ structure

Iteration
use a ‘count-controlled’ loop:
o FOR <identifier> ← <value1> TO <value2> <statement(s)> ENDFOR
o alternatively: FOR <identifier> ← <value1> TO <value2> STEP <value3>
<statement(s)> ENDFOR
use a ‘post-condition’ loop:
o REPEAT <statement(s)> UNTIL <condition>
use a ‘pre-condition’ loop
o WHILE <condition> <statement(s)> ENDWHILE • justify why one loop structure
may be better suited to a problem than the others

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

2
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Algorithms:
An algorithm is a sequence of steps done to perform some task.
The essential aim of an algorithm is to get a specific output,
An algorithm involves with several continuous steps,
The output comes after the algorithm finished the whole process.

So basically, all algorithms perform logically while following the steps to get an output for a
given input.

Types of Algorithms:
Structured English
Flowcharts
Pseudo codes
Program Code
STRUCTURED ENGLISH:
Structured English provides a more formal way of documenting the stages of the algorithm.
Structured English is a subset of English language that consists of command statements used
to describe an algorithm.

FLOWCHARTS:
Flow chart is a graphical representation of a program.
Flowcharts use different symbols containing information about steps or a sequence of events.

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

3
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

PSEUDOCODE:
Pseudo code is an outline of a program, written as a series of instruction using simple
English sentences.
Pseudo code uses keywords commonly found in high-level languages and mathematical
notation. It describes an algorithm’s steps like program statements, without being bound by the
strict rules of vocabulary and syntax of any particular language, together with ordinary English.

Variable:
Variable is memory location where a value can be stored.

Constants:
Just like variables, constants are "dataholders". They can be used to store data that is
needed at runtime.
In contrast to variable, the content of a constant can't change at runtime, it has a
constant value.
Before the program can be executed (or compiled) the value for a constant must be
known.

Arithmetic
Use the arithmetic operators.

Assignment
Assignment is the process of writing a value into a variable (a named memory location).
For example, Count ← 1 can be read as ‘Count is assigned the value 1’, ‘Count is
made equal to 1’ or ‘Count becomes 1’.

Initialization:
If an algorithm needs to read the value of a variable before it assigns input data or a
calculated value to the variable, the algorithm should assign an appropriate initial value
to the variable, known as Initialization.

Input
We indicate input by words such as INPUT, READ or ENTER, followed by the name of
a variable to which we wish to assign the input value.

Output:
We indicate output by words such as OUTPUT, WRITE or PRINT, followed by a
comma-separated list of expressions.

Totaling
To keep a running total, we can use a variable such as Total or Sum to hold the running
total and assignment statements such as:
Total ← Total + Number (ADD Number to Tota)l

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

4
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Counting
It is sometimes necessary to count how many times something happens.
To count up or increment by 1, we can use statements such as:
Count ← Count + 1
INCREMENT Count by 1

Structured statements
In the sequence structure the processing steps are carried out one after the other. The
instructions are carried out in sequence, unless a selection or loop is encountered.

Operator Comparison
> Greater than
< Less than
>= Greater than equal to
<= Less than equal to
= Equals to
<> Not equal
() Group
AND And
OR Or
NOT Not

Data types

The following table shows the Visual Basic data types, their supporting common
language runtime types, their nominal storage allocation, and their value ranges.

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

5
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Basic Data Types

A variable can store one type of data. The most used data types are:

Declaration of Variables and Constant:

The process of creating a variable is called declaring a variable. Variables must be

created or declared where users enter their data.

Pseudo code

BEGIN
DECLARE variable : Datatype

Variable 0 //initialization

OUTPUT (“What is your Email address”)

INPUT variable value

IF valid email address?

Then ...
END

Each declaration needs 4 things:

Pseudo code VB code example:

• DECLARE keyword
• Variable name
• : keyword
• Variable data type

DECLARE variable : Datatype

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

6
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Declaring Multiple Variables:

Pseudocodes VB Code Console Mode

DECLARE index : Integer

DECLARE grade : Integer
DECLARE counter : Integer
The three declarations above can be rewritten as one declaration if same data type is used:
DECLARE index, grade, counter : Integer

Constants
Creating Constants in Pseudocode is just writing costant name and value with it. In contrast to variable,
the content of a constant can't change at runtime, it has a constant value.

CONSTANT <identifier> = <Value>

CONSTANT Pi 3.1415 or CONSTANT Pi = 3 .14

Type of Programs:
 Sequence
 Selection
 Repetitions/Loops

Sequence
Statements are followed in sequence so the order of the statements in a program is
important.
Assignment statements rely on the variables used in the expression on the right-hand
side of the statement all having been given values. Input statements often provide
values for assignment statements. Output statements often use the results from
assignment statements.

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

7
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

PSEUDOCODE VB code example

BEGIN
DECLARE number1 : Integer
DECLARE number2 : Integer
DECLARE sum : Integer
DECLARE product : Integer

PRINT (“Enter number 1”)

INPUT number1
PRINT (“Enter number 2”)
INPUT number2
Sum number1 + number2
product number1 * number2
PRINT (“the sum is”)
PRINT (sum)
PRINT (“the product is”)
PRINT (product)
END

STRUCTURED ENGLISH FLOWCHART

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

8
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Pseudocode VB Code

BEGIN
DECLARE miles,km : REAL

OUTPUT (“Enter miles”)

INPUT miles

km miles * 1.61

OUTPUT(“Km are : ” & km)

END

Structured statements for selection (conditional statements)

These statements are used to select alternative routes through an algorithm; selection’s
logical expressions often involve comparisons, which can operate on text strings as well
as numbers

IF…THEN…ELSE…ENDIF
CASE…OF…OTHERWISE…ENDCASE

IF…THEN…ELSE…ENDIF
For an IF condition the THEN path is followed if the condition is true and the ELSE path
is followed if the condition is false.
There may or may not be an ELSE path. The end of the statement is shown by ENDIF.

A condition can be set up in different ways:

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

9
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

IF ((Height > 1) OR (Weight > 20) OR (Age > 5)) AND (Age < 70)
THEN
PRINT ("You can ride")

ELSE
PRINT ("Too small, too young or too old")
ENDIF

CASE … OF … OTHERWISE … ENDCASE

For a CASE condition the value of the variable decides the path to be taken. Several
values are usually specified. OTHERWISE is the path taken for all other values. The
end of the statement is shown by ENDCASE.

The algorithm below specifies what happens if the value of Choice is 1, 2, 3 or 4.

CASE Choice OF

1: Answer ← Num1 + Num2

2: Answer ← Num1 - Num2
3: Answer ← Num1 * Num2
4: Answer ← Num1 / Num2

OTHERWISE PRINT ("Please enter a valid choice")

ENDCASE

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

10
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

The IF THEN ELSE statement

FLOWCHART:
START

INPUT
marks

Yes

No

PSEUDOCODE VB Code

BEGIN
DECLARE marks : Integer

PRINT ("Enter your grade")

INPUT marks
IF marks > 50
THEN PRINT ("You have passed")
ELSE PRINT (“You’ve failed”)
END IF

END

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

11
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

IF THEN, ELSE-IF statements VB code example

BEGIN
DECLARE marks : INTEGER
PRINT ("Enter marks")
INPUT marks
IF marks >= 80
THEN PRINT ("Grade A")
ELSE IF marks >= 60
THEN PRINT ("Grade B")
ELSE IF marks >= 60
THEN PRINT ("Grade C")
ELSE PRINT ("Grade U")
END IF
END IF
END IF

END

The IF statement is useful, but can get clumsy if you want to consider “multi-way
selections

FLOWCHART:
START

INPUT
marks

Yes OUTPUT
IF marks >= 80
(“Grade A”)

No
Yes OUTPUT
IF marks >=
(“Grade B”)
70
No
IF marks >=60 OUTPUT (“Grade C”)

No Yes
OUTPUT (“Grade U”)

STOP

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

12
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

CASE OF OTHERWISE… FLOWCHART

START

Pseudo code
INPUT marks
BEGIN
DECLARE marks : Integer

PRINT ("Enter your marks") OUTPUT

INPUT marks marks>=80?
(“Grade A”)
CASE OF marks Yes
marks >= 80 No
OUTPUT
PRINT ("Grade A")
marks>=70? (“Grade B”)
marks >= 70
PRINT ("Grade B") Yes
marks >= 60 No OUTPUT
PRINT ("grade C") marks>=60? (“Grade C”)
marks >= 50 Yes
PRINT ("grade D") No
marks >= 40 OUTPUT
PRINT ("grade E") marks>=50? (“Grade D”)
OTHERWISE Yes

PRINT("Grade U, Repeat Exam")

No
END CASE Yes OUTPUT
marks>=40?
(“Grade D”)
END
No

OUTPUT
(“Grade U)

STOP

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

13
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Program Code in Visual Basic Console Mode:

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

14
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

LOOPS (Structured statements for iteration (repetition)

Many problems involve repeating one or more statements, so it is useful to have
structured statements for controlling these iterations or repetitions. Exit conditions
consist of logical expressions whose truth can be tested, such as Count = 10 or Score <
0. At a particular time, a logical expression is either True or False.

FOR…TO…NEXT
WHILE…DO…ENDWHILE
REPEAT…UNTIL

FOR … NEXT LOOP

This is to be used when loop is to be repeated a known fixed number of times.
The counter is automatically increased each time the loop is performed.

FOR count = 1 to 10
INPUT number
total = total + number
NEXT count

WHILE … Do LOOP
This loop is used when we don’t know how many times the loop is to be performed. The Loop is
ended when a certain condition is true.
This condition is checked before starting the loop.

While COUNT < 10 DO

Input NUMBER
TOTAL = TOTAL + NUMBER
COUNT = COUNT + 1
Endwhile
Output TOTAL

REPEAT … UNTIL LOOP

REPEAT UNTIL Loop is used when we do not know how many times loop will be performed.
The Loop is ended when a certain conation is true.
The Condition is checked at the end of the Loop and so a REPEAT Loop always has to be
performed at least once.

REPEAT
Input NUMBER
TOTAL = TOTAL + NUMBER
COUNT = COUNT + 1
Until COUNT = 10
Output Total

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

15
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

FOR Loop PSEUDOCODE

The fore loop repeats statements a set number of time. It uses a variable to count how many time it goes
round the loop and stops when it reaches its limit.

BEGIN
DECLARE count, number : Integer
OUTPUT (“Input a number for its times table")
INPUT number
FOR count = 1 To 20
PRINT (number , “times" , count , “ = ” number * Count”)

NEXT

VB code example:
Sub Main(args As String())
Console.WriteLine("Times Table Program")
Dim count, num As Integer
Console.WriteLine("please Input a number for its TimesTable")
num = Console.ReadLine()
For count = 1 To 20
Console.WriteLine(num & " Times " & count & " = " & num * count)
Next
End Sub

OUTPUT of Code

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

16
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Other examples of FOR loop

BEGIN
DECLARE BiggestSoFar, NextNumber, Counter : Integer

INPUT BiggestSoFar

FOR Counter 1 TO 5

INPUT NextNumber
IF NextNumber > BiggestSoFar
THEN
BiggestSoFar NextNumber
ENDIF

END FOR

OUTPUT (“The biggest number so far is” & BiggestSoFar)

END

Sample VB Code of above Pseudocode:

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

17
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

FLOWCHART FOR LOOP

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

18
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

WHILE DO ENDWHILE loop

The wile loop is known as a test before loop. The condition is tested before entering the loop, but tested
each time it goes round the loop. The number of times the statements within the loop are executed
varies. The test before loop goes round 0 or more times.
This method is useful when processing files and using “read ahead” data

VB Code example
BEGIN
DECLARE name : String

INPUT name

WHILE name <> "x"

PRINT (“Your name is: “name)
INPUT name
END WHILE

END

REPEAT UNTIL loop

The repeat loop is similar to the while loop, but it tests the condition after the statements have been
executed once. This means that this test after loop goes round 1 or more times.

VB code example
BEGIN
DECLARE name : String

REPEAT
INPUT name
PRINT (“Your name is:” name)
UNTIL name = "x"

END

Keeps inputting name and keeps printing name until user enters “X”

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

19
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

FLOWCHART…WHILE-ENDWHILE

START
marks

(“Grade A”)

(“ ”)

INPUT name (“ ”)
LOOP
(“ ”)

(“ ”)

(“

WHILE OUTPUT (“Your name

name <> “x” is”)
Yes OUTPUT (name)

No

STOP
marks

(“Grade A”)

(“

(“
”)

”)
FLOWCHART…REPEAT-UNTIL
(“ ”)

(“ ”) START
(“
marks

(“Grade A”)

(“ ”)

INPUT name (“ ”)
LOOP
(“ ”)

(“ ”)

OUTPUT (“Your name

(“

is”)
OUTPUT (name)

UNTIL
name= “x” No

Yes

STOP
marks

(“Grade A”)

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

(“ ”) 20
(“ ”)

(“ ”)
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Array Data Type

An array is a special variable that has one name, but can store multiple values. Each value is stored in an
element pointed to by an index.
The first element in the array has index value 0, the second has index 1, etc

One Dimensional Arrays

A one dimensional array can be thought as a list. An array with 10 elements, called names, can store 10
names and could be visualized as this:

Arrays (One-dimensional arrays)

In order to use a one-dimensional array in a computer program, you need to consider:

• What the array is going to be used for, so it can be given a meaningful name
• How many items are going to be stored, so the size of the array can be determined.
• What sort of data is to be stored, so that the array can be the appropriate data type.

This array would be created by:

VB code example:

DECLARE names(9): String

PRINT (names(1))

will display James

PRINT (names (7))

Will display Mathew

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

21
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Entering Values in One-Dimension Array

BEGIN

DECLARE count : Integer

DECLARE name (5) : String // for declaring 5 elements in ARRAY
DECLARE marks (5) : Integer

FOR count = 1 to 5 // for inputting 5 names and grades

PRINT (“Enter Name “& count)
INPUT name (count)
PRINT (“Enter grade for “& name(count))
INPUT marks (count)
NEXT count
// for displaying 5 names and grades
FOR count 1 to 5
PRINT (name (count) & “has marks " & marks(count))
NEXT count
END

VB Code in Console Mode

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

22
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

Output of VB code displayed above

Another example of One-Dimensional Array

Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim count As Integer
Dim name(4) As String
Dim marks(4) As Integer
Dim gender(4) As String
For count = 0 To 4
Console.WriteLine("please enter your name" & count)
name(count) = Console.ReadLine()
Console.WriteLine("please enter your gender" & count)
gender(count) = Console.ReadLine()
Console.WriteLine("please enter your marks" & count)
marks(count) = Console.ReadLine()
Next count
For count = 0 To 4
Console.WriteLine("your name is : " & name(count))
Console.WriteLine("your gender is : " & gender(count))
Console.WriteLine("your marks are : " & marks(count))
Next count
Console.ReadKey()
End Sub

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

23
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

End Module
Two Dimensional Arrays (2-D Arrays)

PSEUDOCODE Example of Two-Dimension Array

BEGIN
DECLARE table(3, 4) : Integer
FOR row = 1 To 3
FOR column = 1 To 4
PRINT("Please Input Value in Row: ",row, "column : ", column)
INPUT table(row, column)
NEXT
NEXT

FOR row = 1 To 3
FOR column = 1 To 4
PRINT ("Row = " & row & "column = " & column & “has Value”)
PRINT (table(row, column))
NEXT
NEXT
END

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

24
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

VB Code Example of Two-Dimension Array

Sub Main()
Dim table(2, 3) As Integer
For row = 0 To 2
For column = 0 To 3
Console.WriteLine("Please Input Value in Row: " & row & "column : " & column)
table(row, column) = Console.ReadLine()
Next
Next
Console.Clear()

For row = 0 To 2
For column = 0 To 3
Console.WriteLine("Row = " & row & "column = " & column & “has Value”)
Console.WriteLine(matrix(row, column))
Next
Next
Console.ReadKey()
End Sub

Multi-Dimensional Arrays:

A multi-dimensional array can be thought of as a table, each element has a row and column index.
Following example declares a two-dimensional array called matrix and would be declared by

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

25
 Computer Science 9618
9.2, 10.2,
1 11.1 to 11.3 Algorithm & Programming Basics
with Majid Tahir

VB Code for 2-D Array is:

Refrences:
Computer Science by David Watson & Helen Williams
Visual Basic Console Cook Book
Computer Science AS and A level by Sylvia Langfield and Dave Duddell
https://www.sitesbay.com/javascript/javascript-looping-statement
http://wiki.jikexueyuan.com/project/lua/if-else-if-statement.html

Contact: 03004003666 www.majidtahir.com Email: [email protected]

26