University of Juba
Programming with C++
Practical Training
Lecture 4: Pseudocode
Overview
1.Introduction to Pseudocode
2.Basic Constructs of Pseudocode
3.Rules for Writing Effective Pseudocode
4.Input, Output, and Assignment
5.Real-World Examples
6.Interactive Practice Problems
7.Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
8.Summary and Next Steps
9.Homework and Challenges
1. Introduction to Pseudocode
What is Pseudocode?
• Pseudocode is a simple, human-readable way to describe the
steps of an algorithm.
• It is not actual code but acts as a blueprint for writing code in
any programming language.
• Think of it as a bridge between your ideas and the actual
implementation in a programming language.
1. Introduction to Pseudocode
Why Use Pseudocode?
• Helps in planning and designing algorithms before coding.
• Reduces errors by clarifying logic.
• Makes it easier to communicate ideas with others.
• Provides a structured way to break down complex problems into
manageable steps.
2. Basic Constructs of Pseudocode
• Pseudocode uses six main constructs to describe the flow of an
algorithm.
• These constructs are written in uppercase for clarity:
2. Basic Constructs of Pseudocode
SEQUENCE: Steps executed in order, one after the other.
Example:
Step 1: Boil water
Step 2: Add tea leaves
Step 3: Add milk
Step 4: Serve tea
2. Basic Constructs of Pseudocode
IF-THEN-ELSE: Conditional statements that execute different steps
based on a condition.
Example:
IF temperature > 30 THEN
WRITE "It's hot outside."
ELSE
WRITE "It's cool outside."
END IF
2. Basic Constructs of Pseudocode
WHILE: A loop that repeats steps as long as a condition is true.
Example:
WHILE hunger == true DO
Eat a snack
END WHILE
2. Basic Constructs of Pseudocode
REPEAT-UNTIL: A loop that repeats steps until a condition
becomes true.
Example:
REPEAT
Study for exam
UNTIL confidence_level > 80
2. Basic Constructs of Pseudocode
FOR: A loop that repeats steps a specific number of times.
Example:
FOR i = 1 TO 10 DO
WRITE "Hello"
END FOR
2. Basic Constructs of Pseudocode
CASE: A generalization of IF-THEN-ELSE for multiple conditions.
Example:
CASE grade OF
'A': WRITE "Excellent"
'B': WRITE "Good"
'C': WRITE "Average"
ELSE: WRITE "Needs improvement"
END CASE
3. Rules for Writing Effective Pseudocode
1. Capitalize Constructs: Always capitalize keywords like IF, WHILE, FOR,
etc.
2. Use Indentation: Show hierarchy and improve readability.
• Example:
IF x > 0 THEN
WRITE "Positive"
ELSE
WRITE "Negative"
END IF
3. One Statement Per Line: Keep the pseudocode clean and easy to follow.
4. Use Clear Variable Names: Use meaningful names like total_score instead
of ts.
5. Avoid Language-Specific Syntax: Keep pseudocode independent of any
programming language.
6. End Multi-Line Sections: Use END IF, END WHILE, etc., to close blocks.
4. Input, Output, and Assignment
• Input: Use READ to get input from the user.
Example:
READ age
• Output: Use WRITE to display results.
Example:
WRITE "Your age is", age
• Assignment: Use ← or = to assign values to variables.
Example:
total ← 0
total = total + 10
5. Real-World Examples
Example 1: Sum of Two Numbers
READ num1, num2
sum ← num1 + num2
WRITE "The sum is", sum
Example 2: Check if a Number is Even or Odd
READ number
IF number % 2 == 0 THEN
WRITE "Even"
ELSE
WRITE "Odd"
END IF
Example 3: Print Numbers from 1 to 10
FOR i = 1 TO 10 DO
WRITE i
END FOR
6. Interactive Practice Problems
1. Problem 1: Write pseudocode to find the maximum of three
numbers.
2. Problem 2: Write pseudocode to calculate the factorial of a
number.
3. Problem 3: Write pseudocode to check if a number is prime.
6. Interactive Practice Problems
Problem 1: Write pseudocode to find the maximum of three
numbers
IF a > b AND a > c THEN
RETURN a
ELSE IF b > a AND b > c THEN
RETURN b
ELSE
RETURN c
END IF
6. Interactive Practice Problems
Problem 2: Write pseudocode to calculate the factorial of a number.
IF n == 0 OR n == 1 THEN
RETURN 1
ELSE
RETURN n * factorial(n - 1)
END IF
6. Interactive Practice Problems
Problem 3: Write pseudocode to check if a number is prime.
IF n <= 1 THEN
RETURN FALSE
END IF
FOR i = 2 TO SQRT(n) DO
IF n % i == 0 THEN
RETURN FALSE
END IF
END FOR
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• Mistake 1: Using language-specific syntax (e.g., cout or printf).
• Solution: Stick to generic constructs like WRITE and READ.
• Mistake 2: Forgetting to capitalize constructs.
• Solution: Always capitalize keywords like IF, WHILE, FOR, etc.
• Mistake 3: Not using indentation.
• Solution: Use indentation to show hierarchy and improve
readability.
• Mistake 4: Writing overly complex pseudocode.
• Solution: Keep it simple and focus on clarity.
8. Summary
• Pseudocode is a powerful tool for designing algorithms.
• It uses constructs like SEQUENCE, IF-THEN-ELSE, WHILE,
FOR, and CASE to describe logic.
• Writing clear and concise pseudocode is essential for
translating ideas into actual code.
8. Next Steps
• Practice: Write pseudocode for simple problems like calculating
the average of numbers or finding the largest number in a list.
• Translate to Code: Convert your pseudocode into actual code
using C++ or another programming language.
• Explore More: Learn about advanced constructs like functions
and exception handling in pseudocode.
8. Next Steps
9. Quick Quiz:
• What is the purpose of pseudocode?
• Write pseudocode to check if a number is positive, negative, or
zero.
• What is the difference between a WHILE loop and a REPEAT-
UNTIL loop?
Q&A and Discussion
9. Homework Assignment
Write pseudocode for the following problems:
1. Calculate the sum of all even numbers between 1 and 100.
2. Find the smallest number in a list of 5 numbers.
3. Simulate a simple login system (check username and
password).
