Basic Programming Concepts

Some Terminologies

• Algorithm / Flowchart
– A step-by-step procedure for solving a particular problem.
– Independent of the programming language.

• Program
– A translation of the algorithm/flowchart into a form that can be
processed by a computer.
– Typically written in a high-level language like C, C++, Java,
etc.

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Variables and Constants

• Most important concept for problem solving using computers

• All temporary results are stored in terms of variables

– The value of a variable can be changed.
– The value of a constant do not change.

• Where are they stored?

– In main memory.

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Contd.

• How does memory look like (logically)?

– As a list of storage locations, each having a unique address.

– Variables and constants are stored in these storage locations.

– A variable is like a bin

• The contents of the bin is the value of the variable
• The variable name is used to refer to the value of the variable
• A variable is mapped to a location of the memory, called its
address

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Memory map

Address 0
Address 1
Address 2
Address 3
Every variable is
Address 4
mapped to a particular
Address 5
memory address
Address 6

Address N-1

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Variables in Memory

Instruction executed Variable X

X = 10 10
T
i X = 20 20
m
e
X = X +1 21

X =X *5 105

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Variables in Memory (contd.)

Variable
Instruction executed
X Y
X = 20 20 ?
T
i Y = 15 20 15
m
e
X = Y +3 18 15

Y = X /6 18 3

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Data Types

• Three common data types used:

– Integer :: can store only whole numbers

• Examples: 25, -56, 1, 0

– Floating-point :: can store numbers with fractional values.

• Examples: 3.14159, 5.0, -12345.345

– Character :: can store a character

• Examples: ‘A’, ‘a’, ‘*’, ‘3’, ‘ ’, ‘+’

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Data Types (contd.)

• How are they stored in memory?

– Integer ::
• 16 bits
• 32 bits
Actual number of bits vary from
– Float ::
one computer to another
• 32 bits
• 64 bits
– Char ::
• 8 bits (ASCII code)
• 16 bits (UNICODE, used in Java)

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Problem solving

• Step 1:
– Clearly specify the problem to be solved.
• Step 2:
– Draw flowchart or write algorithm.
• Step 3:
– Convert flowchart (algorithm) into program code.
• Step 4:
– Compile the program into object code.
• Step 5:
– Execute the program.

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Flowchart: basic symbols

Computation

Input / Output

Decision Box

Start / Stop

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 Contd.

Flow of
control

Connector

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 Example 1: Adding three numbers

START

READ A, B, C

S = A + B +C

OUTPUT S

STOP

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 Example 2: Larger of two numbers

START

READ X, Y

YES IS NO
X>Y?

OUTPUT X OUTPUT Y

STOP STOP

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 Example 3: Largest of three numbers

START

READ X, Y, Z

YES IS NO
X > Y?

Max = X Max = Y

YES IS NO
Max > Z?
OUTPUT Max OUTPUT Z

STOP STOP

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Example 4: Sum of first N natural numbers

START

READ N

SUM = 0
COUNT = 1

SUM = SUM + COUNT

COUNT = COUNT + 1

NO IS YES
COUNT > N? OUTPUT SUM

STOP

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Example 5: SUM = 12 + 22 + 32 + N2

START

READ N

SUM = 0
COUNT = 1

SUM = SUM + COUNT  COUNT

COUNT = COUNT + 1

NO IS YES
COUNT > N? OUTPUT SUM

STOP

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Example 6: SUM = 1.2 + 2.3 + 3.4 + to N terms

START

READ N

SUM = 0
COUNT = 1

SUM = SUM + COUNT  (COUNT + 1)

COUNT = COUNT + 1

NO IS YES
COUNT > N? OUTPUT SUM

STOP

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Example 7: Computing Factorial

START

READ N

PROD = 1
COUNT = 1

PROD = PROD * COUNT

COUNT = COUNT + 1

NO IS YES
COUNT > N? OUTPUT PROD

STOP

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Example 8: Computing ex series up to N terms

START

READ X, N

TERM = 1
SUM = 0
COUNT = 1

SUM = SUM + TERM

TERM = TERM * X / COUNT

COUNT = COUNT + 1

NO IS YES
COUNT > N? OUTPUT SUM

STOP

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Example 8: Computing ex series up to 4 decimal places

START

READ X, N

TERM = 1
SUM = 0
COUNT = 1

SUM = SUM + TERM

TERM = TERM * X / COUNT

COUNT = COUNT + 1

NO IS YES
TERM < 0.0001? OUTPUT SUM

STOP

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Example 10: Roots of a quadratic equation

ax2 + bx + c = 0

TRY YOURSELF

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Example 11: Grade computation

MARKS  90 Ex
89  MARKS  80 A
79  MARKS  70 B
69  MARKS  60 C
59  MARKS  50 D
49  MARKS  35 P
34  MARKS F

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP

 Grade Computation (contd.)

START

READ MARKS

NO NO NO
MARKS  90? MARKS  80? MARKS  70? A
YES YES YES

OUTPUT “Ex” OUTPUT “A” OUTPUT “B”

STOP STOP STOP

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 NO NO NO
A MARKS  60? MARKS  50? MARKS  35?

YES YES YES

OUTPUT “C” OUTPUT “D” OUTPUT “P” OUTPUT “F”

STOP STOP STOP STOP

Dept. of CSE, IIT KGP