Programming and Problem
Solving
Mr Md Afzal
Assistant Professor-CSE
Introduction
In this course, we learn how to use the
computer effectively to solve problems
Let us go over the syllabus and then
start the introductory topics.
Syllabus
Textbook:
Programming and Problem Solving With C++,3rd Edition
Nell Dale, Chip Weems amd Mark Headington, Jones and Bartlett 2002
Grading:
– HW-I 10%
– HW-II 10%
– HW-III 10%
– HW-IV 10%
– Demos and class work 10%
– Exam-I In-Class 25%
– Exam-II In-Class 25%
– NOTE: Exam-I covers all the topics until last lecture before the exam.
Exam-II covers all topics from first lecture after Exam-I until the last
lecture before exam week.
Topics
– Introduction to Computers
– Overview of C++
– Top Down Design
– Selection
– Repetition
– Function Arguments
– Formatting and Files
– Arrays and Structures
– User defined classes
– Recursion
Chapter 1 Topics
Computer Programming
Programming Life-Cycle Phases
Creating an Algorithm
Machine Language vs. High Level Languages
Compilation and Execution Processes
C++ History
Computer Components
Computing Profession Ethics
Problem-Solving Techniques
5
What is Computer Programming?
It is the process of planning a
sequence of steps (called
instructions) for a computer to
follow.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
. . . 6
Programming Life Cycle Phases
1 Problem-Solving
2 Implementation
3 Maintenance
7
Problem-Solving Phase
ANALYZE the problem and SPECIFY
what the solution must do
develop a GENERAL SOLUTION
(ALGORITHM) to solve the problem
VERIFY that your solution really
solves the problem
8
Sample Problem
A programmer needs an algorithm to
determine an employee’s weekly
wages. How would the calculations
be done by hand?
9
One Employee’s Wages
In one week an employee works 52 hours at
the hourly pay rate of $24.75. Assume a 40.0
hour normal work week and an overtime pay
rate factor of 1.5
What are the employee’s wages?
40 x $ 24.75 = $ 990.00
12 x 1.5 x $ 24.75 = $___________
445.50
$ 1435.50
10
Weekly Wages, in General
If hours are more than 40.0, then
wages = (40.0 * payRate) + (hours - 40.0) * 1.5 *payRate
RECALL EXAMPLE
( 40 x $ 24.75 ) + ( 12 x 1.5 x $ 24.75 ) = $1435.50
otherwise,
wages = hours * payRate 11
An Algorithm is . . .
a step-by-step procedure for solving a
problem in a finite amount of time.
12
Algorithm to Determine an
Employee’s Weekly Wages
1. Get the employee’s hourly payRate
2. Get the hours worked this week
3. Calculate this week’s regular wages
4. Calculate this week’s overtime wages (if any)
5. Add the regular wages to overtime wages (if any)
to determine total wages for the week
13
What is a
Programming Language?
It is a language with strict grammar
rules, symbols, and special words
used to construct a computer
program.
14
Implementation Phase:
Program
translating your algorithm into a
programming language is called
CODING
with C++, you use
Documentation -- your written comments
Compiler -- translates your program
into machine language
Main Program -- may call subalgorithms15
Implementation Phase: Test
TESTING your program means running
(executing) your program on the
computer, to see if it produces correct
results
if it does not, then you must find out
what is wrong with your program or
algorithm and fix it--this is called
debugging
16
Maintenance Phase
USE and MODIFY the program to
meet changing requirements or
correct errors that show up in using
it
maintenance begins when your
program is put into use and
accounts for the majority of effort on
most programs
17
Programming Life Cycle
1 Problem-Solving Phase
Analysis and Specification
General Solution ( Algorithm )
Verify
2 Implementation Phase
Concrete Solution ( Program )
Test
3 Maintenance Phase
Use
Maintain 18
A Tempting Shortcut?
DEBUG
REVISE
REVISE
DEBUG DEBUG
REVISE
CODE
GOAL
TEST
THINKING
CODE
19
Memory Organization
two circuit states correspond to 0 and 1
bit (short for binary digit) refers to a single
0 or 1. Bit patterns represent both the
computer instructions and computer data
1 byte = 8 bits
1 KB = 1024 bytes
1 MB = 1024 x 1024 = 1,048,576 bytes
20
How Many Possible Digits?
binary (base 2) numbers use 2 digits:
JUST 0 and 1
decimal (base 10) numbers use 10 digits:
0 THROUGH 9
21
Machine Language
is not portable
runs only on specific type of computer
is made up of binary-coded instructions
(strings of 0s and 1s)
is the language that can be directly used by
the computer
22
High Level Languages
are portable
user writes program in language similar to
natural language
examples -- FORTRAN, COBOL, Pascal,
Ada, Modula-2, C++, Java
most are standardized by ISO/ANSI to
provide an official description of the
language
23
Three C++ Program Stages
myprog.cpp myprog.obj myprog.exe
SOURCE OBJECT EXECUTABLE
written in
written in written in
machine
C++ machine
language
language
via compiler via linker
other code
from libraries,
etc.
24
Java Programming Language
achieves portability by using both a compiler and
an interpreter
first, a Java compiler translates a Java program into
an intermediate bytecode--not machine language
then, an interpreter program called the Java Virtual
Machine (JVM) translates a single instruction in the
bytecode program to machine language and
immediately runs it, one at a time
25
Basic Control Structures
a sequence is a series of statements that execute
one after another
selection (branch) is used to execute different
statements depending on certain conditions
Looping (repetition) is used to repeat statements
while certain conditions are met.
a subprogram is used to break the program into
smaller units
26
SEQUENCE
Statement Statement Statement ...
27
SELECTION (branch)
IF Condition THEN Statement1 ELSE Statement2
Statement1
Statement
Condition ...
Statement2
28
LOOP (repetition)
WHILE Condition DO Statement1
False
...
Condition
Statement
29
SUBPROGRAM (function)
SUBPROGRAM1 ...
SUBPROGRAM1
a meaningful collection
of SEQUENCE,
SELECTION, LOOP,
SUBPROGRAM
30
Computer Components
Peripherals
Central Processing Unit ( CPU )
Input Device
Control Unit
Arithmetic Logic Unit
Output Device
Auxiliary
Storage Memory Unit ( RAM & Registers )
Device
31
Memory Unit
is an ordered sequence of storage cells, each
capable of holding a piece of information
each cell has its own unique address
the information held can be input data,
computed values, or your program instructions.
32
Central Processing Unit
has 2 components to execute program
instructions
Arithmetic/Logic Unit performs arithmetic
operations, and makes logical comparisons.
Control Unit controls the order in which
your program instructions are executed.
33
Peripherals
are input, output, or auxiliary storage devices
attached to a computer
Input Devices include keyboard and mouse.
Output Devices include printers, video display,
LCD screens.
Auxiliary Storage Devices include disk drives,
scanners, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives,
modems, sound cards, speakers, and digital
cameras.
34
Some C++ History
1972 : Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs designs C
and 90% of UNIX is then written in C
Late 70’s : OOP becomes popular
Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs adds features
to C to form “C with Classes”
1983 : Name C++ first used
1998 : ISO/ANSI standardization of C++
35
Computing Profession Ethics
copy software only with permission from the
copyright holder
give credit to another programmer by name
whenever using his/her code
use computer resources only with permission
guard the privacy of confidential data
use software engineering principles to develop
software free from errors 36
What is Computer Science?
The Computing Curriculum 1991 (ACM/IEEE)
Algorithms and Data Structures
Architecture
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Database and Information Retrieval
Human-Computer Communication
Numerical and Symbolic Computation
Operating Systems
Programming Languages
Software Engineering
Social and Professional Context 37
Problem Solving Techniques
ASK QUESTIONS -- about the data, the
process, the output, error conditions.
LOOK FOR FAMILIAR THINGS -- certain
situations arise again and again.
SOLVE BY ANALOGY -- it may give you a
place to start.
USE MEANS-ENDS ANALYSIS -- Determine
the I/O and then work out the details.
38
More Problem Solving Techniques
DIVIDE AND CONQUER -- break up large
problems into manageable units.
BUILDING-BLOCK APPPROACH -- can you
solve small pieces of the problem?
MERGE SOLUTIONS -- instead of joining
them end to end to avoid duplicate steps.
OVERCOME MENTAL BLOCK -- by
rewriting the problem in your own words.
39
Company Payroll Case Study
A small company needs an interactive
program to figure its weekly payroll. The
payroll clerk will input data for each
employee, and each employee’s wages
and data should be saved in a secondary
file.
Display the total wages for the week on
the screen.
40
One Employee’s Wages
In one week employee ID # 4587 works 52
hours at the hourly pay rate of $24.75.
Assume a 40.0 hour normal work week and
an overtime pay rate factor of 1.5.
What are the employee’s wages?
40 x $ 24.75 = $ 990.00
12 x 1.5 x $ 24.75 = $___________
445.50
$ 1435.50
41
Problem-Solving Phase
What information will be used?
INPUT DATA from outside the program
FORMULA CONSTANTS used in program
COMPUTED VALUE produced by program
OUTPUT RESULTS written to file or screen by
program
42
Problem-Solving Phase
INPUT DATA FORMULA OUTPUT
CONSTANTS RESULTS
Employee ID Normal work Hourly payRate
Number hours ( 40.0 )
Hours worked
Hourly payRate Overtime pay
rate factor (1.5) Wages
Hours worked
COMPUTED VALUE
Wages
43
Week’s Wages, in General
If hours are more than 40.0, then
wages = (40.0 * payRate) + (hours - 40.0) * 1.5 *payRate
RECALL EXAMPLE
( 40 x $ 24.75 ) + ( 12 x 1.5 x $ 24.75 ) = $1435.50
otherwise,
wages = hours * payRate 44
Algorithm for Company
Payroll Program
initialize total company payroll to 0.0
repeat this process for each employee:
1. Get the employee’s ID empNum
2. Get the employee’s hourly payRate
3. Get the hours worked this week
4. Calculate this week’s wages
5. Add wages to total company payroll
6. Write empNum, payRate, hours, wages to file
write total company payroll on screen 45
C++ Program
// ***************************************************
// Payroll program
// This program computes each employee’s wages and
// the total company payroll
// ***************************************************
#include <iostream> // for keyboard/screen I/O
#include <fstream> // for file I/O
using namespace std;
void CalcPay ( float, float, float& ) ;
const float MAX_HOURS = 40.0; // Maximum normal hours
const float OVERTIME = 1.5; // Overtime pay factor
46
C++ Code Continued
int main( )
{
float payRate; // Employee’s pay rate
float hours; // Hours worked
float wages; // Wages earned
float total; // Total company payroll
int empNum; // Employee ID number
ofstream payFile; // Company payroll file
payFile.open( “payfile.dat” ); // Open file
total = 0.0; // Initialize total
47
cout << “Enter employee number: “; // Prompt
cin >> empNum; // Read ID number
while ( empNum != 0 ) // While not done
{
cout << “Enter pay rate: “;
cin >> payRate ; // Read pay rate
cout << “Enter hours worked: “;
cin >> hours ; // and hours worked
CalcPay(payRate, hours, wages); // Compute wages
total = total + wages; // Add to total
payFile << empNum << payRate
<< hours << wages << endl;
cout << “Enter employee number: “;
cin >> empNum; // Read ID number
} 48
48
cout << “Total payroll is “
<< total << endl;
return 0 ; // Successful completion
}
// ***************************************************
void CalcPay ( /* in */ float payRate ,
/* in */ float hours ,
/* out */ float& wages )
// CalcPay computes wages from the employee’s pay rate
// and the hours worked, taking overtime into account
{
if ( hours > MAX_HOURS )
wages = (MAX_HOURS * payRate ) +
(hours - MAX_HOURS) * payRate * OVER_TIME;
else
wages = hours * payRate;
} 49
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