Introduction to Computing

Algorithm & Problem Solving

Lecture No. 1
November 1, 2013
Algorithm
Algorithm is a process that a computer could carr
out to complete a !ell de"ined tas# !ithin "inite
time and resources$
%he ob&ective o" computer science is to solve
problems b developing, anal'ing, and
implementing algorithmic solutions$
Al()h!ari'imi Principle
*
All comple+ problems can be bro#en into
simpler sub(problems$
*
Solve a comple+ problem b brea#ing it do!n
into smaller sub(problems and then solve them
,in a speci"ied order-, one at a time$
*
.hen all the steps are solved, the original
problem itsel" has also been solved$
*
%his process is called Algorithm$
Different kinds of computing
*
Numerical / algorithms "or mathematical
problems that arise in phsical sciences
/
0or e+ample, integration, di""erentiation,
solving a set o" linear e1uations$
*
Non(numerical / everthing else
/
Sorting a list o" names, schedule the
production process o" a "actor, account
management, game plaing, control the
movement o" a robot$
Computer Programming
The process of planning a
sequence of steps for a
computer to follow.
Computer Programming
*
Computer is a po!er"ul tool
*
It is not intelligent2
*
In order to use computer to solve our problems,
!e must tell it !hat !e !ant done and the order
in !hich !e !ant it done$
*
%hese instructions are called computer program$
*
%his process is called computer programming$
*
%he person giving these instructions is called a
computer programmer$
Computer Programming
*
Anal'e the problem
*
3evelop a se1uence o" instructions "or
solving the problem$
*
Communicate it to the computer$
Programming 4anguage
A set o" rules, smbols, and special
!ords used to construct a
computer program$
5A6A
C7C88
69
Phases o" the so"t!are li"e ccle
*
:e1uirement 3e"inition
*
Analsis and design
*
Coding
*
%esting
*
Implementation
*
;aintenance
Problem Solving %echni1ues
*
As# 1uestions
*
4oo# "or things that are similar
*
3ivide and Con1uer
*
;erging solutions
As# <uestions
*
As# 1uestions until ou have developed a clear
understanding o" the problem$
*
.ho, .hat, .h, .here, .hen$
/
.hat do I have to !or# !ith= ,m data or input-
/
>o! much data is there=
/
.hat should m output loo# li#e=
/
>o! man times is the process going to be
repeated=
/
.hat are the e+ceptions to the main course=
/
.hat special error condition might come up=
4oo# "or things that are "amiliar
*
3o not reinvent the !heel2
*
3ra! Analogies
;eans(?nds analsis
*
Starting point and ending state are #no!n$
*
@ou need to devise the trans"ormation
"unction$
*
?nds are de"ined / ou need to anal'e
our means o" getting bet!een them$
*
4ahore to Islamabad
/
.hat are the options=
/
Narro! do!n the options=
/
0igure out the details=
3ivide and Con1uer
*
Same as the Al#h!ar'imi Principle$
*
9rea#up the large problem into smaller
units and then solve them one at a time$
*
9uilding bloc# approach$
3ivide and Con1uer
Hard Problem
Hard ub!problem "as# ub!problem "as# ub!problem
"as# ub!problem "as# ub!problem
;erging Solution
*
Sometimes merging t!o independent
solutions solves the problem more
e""icientl=
*
Calculate Average
/
Count values
/
Sum 6alues
/
3ivide sum b count
*
Alternative approach
/
calculate partial sum as ou count
Problem Solving %echni1ues
*
.hat is the un#no!n=
/
.hat is re1uired=
*
.hat are the data=
/
.hat is given=
*
.hat is the condition=
/
9 !hat condition the un#no!n is lin#ed to the
data=
Conversion "rom 0ahrenheit to Celsius
*
Autput
/
%emperature in Celsius ,C-
*
Inputs
/
%emperature in 0ahrenheit ,0-
*
Process
32) (F
9
5
C =
Calculate and print the average grade o" 3
tests "or the entire class
*
Input
/
3 test scores "or each student
*
output
/
Average o" 3 tests "or each student
*
Process
1$ Bet three scores
2$ Add them together
3$ 3ivide b three to get the average
C$ Print the average
D$ :epeat step 1 to C "or ne+t student
E$ Stop i" there are no more students
Algorithm
;a#e a 5am and 9utter Sand!ich
*
Autput
/
5am and 9utter Sand!iches
*
Inputs
/
5am, 9utter, 9read, )ni"e, Plate
*
Process
1$ Put t!o slices o" bread on the plate
2$ Fsing the #ni"e, spread butter on one side
3$ Fsing the #ni"e, spread &am on the other
side
C$ Put the t!o slices together, clean side out
D$ :epeat "rom step 1 to C to prepare more
sand!iches
Algorithm
A%; "or !ithdra!al
*
Autput
/
;one, error messages
*
Inputs
/
Fser Identi"ication ,A%; card-, pass!ord,
amount
A%; "or !ithdra!al ( Process
1$ Bet the A%; card "or identi"ication and as# "or
pass!ord
2$ Chec# pass!ord
3$ I" pass!ord is not valid, generate an error
message and go to step number G$
C$ Bet the amount "rom the user
D$ Chec# the current balance
E$ I" amount is greater than current balance,
generate an error message and go to step
number G$
H$ Subtract the amount "rom the balance and give
out the cash$
G$ :eturn the A%; card
I$ Stop

A flowchart is a visual or graphical

representation of an algorithm.

The flowchart employs a series of blocks and

arrows, each of which represents a particular
operation or step in the algorithm.

The arrows represent the sequence in which

the operations are implemented.
0lo! Charts
0lo!charts / ;ost Common Smbols
Symbol Symbol Name Name Function Function
Terminal Terminal Represents the beginning or end of a Represents the beginning or end of a
program. program.
Flow-line Flow-line Represents the flow of logic. Represents the flow of logic.
Process Process Represents calculations or data Represents calculations or data
manipulation. manipulation.
Input/utput Input/utput Represents inputs or outputs of data Represents inputs or outputs of data
and information. and information.
!ecision !ecision Represents a comparison" #uestion" Represents a comparison" #uestion"
or decision that determines or decision that determines
alternati$e paths to be followed. alternati$e paths to be followed.
$lowcharts % An "&ample
Find the solution of a quadratic equation
Ax
2
!x"#$, given A, ! and ".
ST%RT
INP&T
%" '" (
(alculate
R ) S*RT+'
,
--%(.
% %
% %
/0 ) +-'1R./+,%.
/, ) +-'-R./+,%.
PRINT
%" '" (" /0" /,
2N!
0lo! Charting
?+presses the "lo! o" processing in a
structured pictorial "ormat$
Processing
teps
'nput and
(utput teps
Decision
$low
of
data
)onnectors
Terminator
$low chart for
)on*erting
$ahrenheit
into )elsius
+et temp. in ,$-
Print ,)-
)alculate
) 32 (F
9
5
C =
top
.egin
+et bread/ butter/
0am/ knife/ and plate
Put two slices of
bread on the plate
pread butter on one slice
pread 1am on the other slice
Put the two slices together/
stick# side in
2ant another3
4es
top
No
$low chart for
preparing a
butter and 0am
sandwich
Add them together
Di*ide the result b# three
5ore students3
4es
top
No
$low chart for
calculating
a*erage of
three scores
+et three scores
Print the a*erage
+et Password
's Password
)orrect3
+et amount
4es
's amount 6
.alance
No
+enerate
"rror 5essage
No
+enerate
"rror 5essage
ubtract amount
from balance
4es
top
7eturn
AT5 card
A%; cash !ithdra!al process
Dispense cash
ST%RT ST%RT
INP&T INP&T
%" ' %" '
%dd % to ' %dd % to '
and store in ( and store in (
&TP&T &TP&T
( (
2N! 2N!
"omparison of Algorithm, flowchart and %seudo&code
Step 03 'egin the calculations
Step ,3 Input $alues for the
$ariables % and '.
Step 43 %dd the $ariables
Step -3 utput the results
Step 53 2nd the calculation.
BEGIN Adder
Input A and B
C = A + B
PRINT C
END Adder
Algorithm Algorithm $lowchart $lowchart Pseudo!code Pseudo!code