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Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Your notes

Computer Science
Algorithms
Contents
Designing Algorithms
Explaining Algorithms

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Designing Algorithms
Your notes
What is an algorithm?
An algorithm is precise set of rules or instructions to solve a specific problem or task
There are three main ways to design an algorithm
Structure diagrams
Flowchart
Pseudocode

Structure Diagrams
What is a structure diagram?
Structure diagrams show hierarchical top-down design in a visual form
Each problem is divided into sub-problems and each sub-problem divided into further sub-problems
At each level the problem is broken down into more detailed tasks that can be implemented using a
single subroutine

an example of a structure diagram for a mobile application could be:

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Your notes

Flowcharts
What is a flowchart?
Flowcharts are a visual tool that uses shapes to represent different functions to describe an
algorithm
Flowcharts show the data that is input and output, the processes that take place and any decisions or
repetition
Lines are used to show the flow of control

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Your notes

Example
Flowchart

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Your notes

The casino would like the algorithm refined so that the user also enters their first name and this is used
to greet the user when they access the site

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Flowchart
Your notes

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Your notes

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Pseudocode Your notes

What is pseudocode?
Pseudocode is a text-based tool that uses short English words/statements to describe an algorithm
Pseudocode is more structured than writing sentences in English but is very flexible

Example
A casino would like a program that asks users to enter an age, if they are 18 or over they can enter the
site, if not then they are given a suitable message

Pseudocode

INPUT Age
IF Age >= 18
THEN
OUTPUT "Welcome to the site"
ELSE
OUTPUT "Sorry, this site is for users 18 and over"
ENDIF

The casino would like the algorithm refined so that the user also enters their first name and this is used
to greet the user when they access the site

Pseudocode

INPUT FName
INPUT Age
IF Age >= 18
THEN
OUTPUT "Welcome to the site", FName
ELSE
OUTPUT "Sorry, this site is for users 18 and over"
ENDIF

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Explaining Algorithms
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Explaining Algorithms
How do you explain an algorithm?
A well designed algorithm should be able to be interpreted by a new user and they should be able to
explain what it does
Algorithms can be written using flowcharts, pseudocode or high-level programming language code
such as Python
The purpose of an algorithm is to solve a problem, if a user does not know the goal of the algorithm,
then following the algorithm instructions should make its purpose clear
If the algorithm is complex then additional ways to understand the problem could be:
Look for comments in the code
Consider the context of where the algorithm is being used
Test the algorithm with different inputs
Look at the following algorithm, can you explain what it does?

Pseudocode

Count ← 1
Number ← 0
Total ← 0
REPEAT
INPUT Number
Total ← Total + Number
Count ← Count + 1
UNTIL Count > 10
OUTPUT Total

The purpose of the algorithm is to add ten user-entered numbers together and output the total
The processes are:
initializing three variables (Count, Number, Total)
inputting a user number
adding to two variables (Total, Count)

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repeating nine more times

outputting the final Total value Your notes

Worked Example
The pseudocode algorithm shown has been written by a teacher to enter marks for the students in
her class and then to apply some simple processing.
Count ← 0

REPEAT
INPUT Score[Count]

IF Score[Count] >= 70 THEN

Grade[Count] ← "A"
ELSE
IF Score[Count] >= 60 THEN
Grade[Count] ← "B"
ELSE
IF Score[Count] >= 50 THEN
Grade[Count] ← "C"
ELSE
IF Score[Count] >= 40 THEN
Grade[Count] ← "D"
ELSE
IF Score[Count] >= 30 THEN
Grade[Count] ← "E"
ELSE
Grade[Count] ← "F"
ENDIF
ENDIF
ENDIF
ENDIF
ENDIF

Count ← Count + 1
UNTIL Count = 30

Describe what happens in this algorithm.

[3]
Answer
Any 3 of:
Inputted marks are stored in the array Score[] [1]

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Marks are then checked against a range of boundaries [1]

A matching grade is assigned to each mark that has been input [1]
The grade is then stored in the array Grade[] [1] Your notes
At the same index as the inputted mark [1]
The algorithm finishes after 30 marks have been input [1]

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