Introduction to Computing

L3-L5
Objectives
To learn and appreciate the following concepts

Introduction to algorithms and flowcharts

Algorithms and flowcharts for simple problems
Simple C programs

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Session outcome
• At the end of session the student will be able to write

• Algorithms and flowcharts for simple problems

• Simple C programs

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Algorithm
A step by step procedure to solve a particular problem

Named after Arabic Mathematician Abu Jafar Mohammed Ibn Musa Al

Khowarizmi

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Algorithmic Notations
• Name of the algorithm [mandatory]
[gives a meaningful name to the algorithm based on the problem]
• Start [Begin of algorithm]
• Step Number [mandatory]
[indicate each individual simple task]
• Explanatory comment [optional]
[gives an explanation for each step, if needed]
• Termination [mandatory]
[tells the end of algorithm]

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Properties of an algorithm

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Steps to develop an algorithm

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Compute the area of circle
Name of the algorithm : Compute the area of a circle
Step1: Start
Step 2: Input radius
Step 3: [Compute the area]
Area  3.1416 * radius * radius
Step 4: [Print the Area]
Print ‘Area of a circle =‘, Area
Step 5: [End of algorithm]
Stop

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Interchange values of two variables

Name of the algorithm: Interchange values of 2 variables

Step 1: Start
Step 2: Input A,B
Step 3: temp  A
Step 4: AB
Step 5: Btemp
Step 6: Print ‘A=’ , A
Print ‘B=’ , B
Step 7: [End of Algorithm]
Stop
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Largest of 3 numbers
Name of the algorithm: Find largest of 3 numbers
Step 1: Start
Step 2: [Read the values of A, B and C]
Read A, B, C

Step 3: [Compare A and B]

if A>B Go to step 5

Step 4: [Otherwise compare B with C]

if B>C then
Print ‘B’ is largest’
else
Print ‘C’ is largest’
Go to Step 6
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Largest of 3 Numbers contd
Step 5: [Compare A and C for largest]
if A>C then
Print ‘A’ is largest’
else
Print ‘C’ is largest’
Step 6: [End of the algorithm]
Stop

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Tutorial on Algorithms
• Write the algorithm to find the area of triangle when three sides are
given
• Write the algorithm to add two integers

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Flowcharts
In Computer Science, Flow chart is used to represent algorithm which
basically provides a solution to any computational problem.

• Flowchart: A graphical/pictorial representation of computation

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Basic Flowchart Symbols

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Area of the circle
Name of the algorithm: Compute
the area of a circle Flowchart

Step1: Input radius

Step 2: [Compute the area]

Area  3.1416 * radius*radius

Step 3: [Print the Area]

Print ‘Area of a circle =‘, Area

Step 4: [End of algorithm]

Stop

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Comparing two numbers
Name of the algorithm: Comparing
Two numbers Flowchart
Step 1: start
Step 2: input num1, num2
Step 3: if num1 > num2 then
Print num1 is bigger
else
Print num2 is
bigger
Step 4: end

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Swapping two numbers
Name of the algorithm: Swpping
Two numbers Flowchart

Step1: Input two numbers

Step 2: [swapping]
temp=a
a=b
b=temp
Step 3: [Print]
Print ‘after swapping=‘, a,b
Step 4: [End of algorithm]
Stop
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Key features of flow chart
Diagrammatic / visual / graphical representation of computation of an
algorithm/pseudo code

Easier to understand and analyze the problem and it’s solution before
programming

Machine independent

 Well suited for any type of logic

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Tutorial
• Write the flowchart to find the area of triangle when three sides are
given
• Write the flowchart to add two integers

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 General Structure of C program

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1. Documentation section:
The documentation section consists of a set of comment lines giving the
name of the program, the author and other details, which the
programmer would like to use later.
2. Link section: The link section provides instructions to the compiler to link
functions from the system library such as using the #include directive.
3. Definition section: The definition section defines all symbolic constants
such using the #define directive.
4. Global declaration section: There are some variables that are used in
more than one function. Such variables are called global variables and
are declared in the global declaration section that is outside of all the
functions. This section also declares all the user-defined functions.

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 1. main () function section: Every C program must have one main function section.
This section contains two parts; declaration part and executable part
1. Declaration part: The declaration part declares all the variables used in the
executable part.
2. Executable part: There is at least one statement in the executable part. These
two parts must appear between the opening and closing braces. The
program execution begins at the opening brace and ends at the closing brace.
The closing brace of the main function is the logical end of the program. All
statements in the declaration and executable part end with a semicolon.
2. Subprogram section: If the program is a multi-function program then the
subprogram section contains all the user-defined functions that are called in the main
() function. User-defined functions are generally placed immediately after the main ()
function, although they may appear in any order.
All section, except the main () function section may be absent when they are not
required.

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Simple C program

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Hello world program

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Structure of C program

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Scanf()
• Scanf is used to obtain the value from the user
• Eg: Scanf(“%d”, &integer1);

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C program essentials

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Printf()
• C provides the printf() to display the data on the monitor.
• It is included in stdio.h
• Examples are:
• Printf(“programming is an art”);
• Printf(“%d”, number);
• Printf(“%f%f”, p,q);

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Adding two integers
#include <stdio.h>
int main( void )
{
int sum; /* variable in which sum will be stored */
int integer1; /* first number to be input by user */
int integer2; /* second number to be input by user */
printf( "Enter first integer\n" );
scanf( "%d", &integer1 ); /* read an integer */
printf( "Enter second integer\n" );
scanf( "%d", &integer2 ); /* read an integer */
sum = integer1 + integer2; /* assign total to sum */
printf( "Sum is %d\n", sum ); /* print sum */
return 0; /* indicate that program ended successfully */
} /* end function main */
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Syntax and Logical errors
Syntax errors: violation of programming language rules (grammar).
Detected by the compiler
Eg: printf (“hello world”) // semicolon missing

Logical errors: errors in meaning:

Programs are syntactically correct but don’t produce the expected output
User observes output of running program

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Summary
Introduction to algorithms and flowcharts
Algorithms and flowcharts for simple problems
Simple C programs

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