ALGORITHM
PSEUDOCODE
& FLOWCHART
Pseudocode
Definition: Pseudocode consists of statements which are combination of English and c language that can be easily
translated into program.
• Generally pseudo code is a restatement of a problem as a list of steps in English like format that describes what
must be done to solve it.
• It is used at one stage of the development process and can be refined , made more precise gradually.
• For every problem to write Pseudocode, should answer the following :
a. what exactly the program expected to do?
b. what answers/outputs will be printed?
c. how can the problem be translated from English to C?
d. if the problem is too hard/big to translate directly ,is it possible to break the problem into simpler steps which
can be translated more easily.
Example : Pseudocode for computing the area of a
circle for a given radius.
step 1: start
step 2: take input “r”
step 3: A=3.141*r*r
Step 4: display A
Step 5: stop
Algorithm
• An algorithm is a step by step method of solving a problem.
It is commonly used for data processing, calculation and
other related computer and mathematical operations.
• Algorithms are generally created independent of
underlying languages, i.e. an algorithm can be
implemented in more than one programming language
Characteristics of an Algorithm
• Not all procedures can be called an algorithm. An algorithm should have the following
• Unambiguous − Algorithm should be clear and unambiguous. Each of its steps (or phases),
and their inputs/outputs should be clear and must lead to only one meaning.
• Input − An algorithm should have 0 or more well-defined inputs.
• Output − An algorithm should have 1 or more well-defined outputs, and should match the
desired output.
• Finiteness − Algorithms must terminate after a finite number of steps.
• Feasibility − Should be feasible with the available resources.
• Independent − An algorithm should have step-by-step directions, which should be
independent of any programming code.
• Example : algorithm for computing the area of a
circle for a given radius.
Step 1: [start] Begin
Step 2: [take input for radius]
Input r
Step 3: [compute area “A”] A=3.141*r*r
Step 4: [display result]
Print “A”
Step 5: [stop]
End
Examples of Algorithm and Pseudo
code
Write a pseudocode and algorithm to compute sum and average of any three numbers.
Algorithm :
Pseudocode : Step 1: [Begin]
start
Step 1: start Step 2: [read any three numbers]
Step 2: take 3 values a, b and c Input a,b,c
Step 3: [compute sum S]
Step 3: s=a+b+c S=a+b+c
Step 4: display/print s Step 4: [display S]
Print S
Step 5: avg= (a+b+c)/3 Step 5: [compute average ]
Step 6: display/print avg avg=(a+b+c)/3
Step 6: [display avg]
step 5: stop Print avg
Step 7:[ End]
stop
Write a Pseudocode and algorithm to compute the circumference/perimeter for
the given radius.
Algorithm :
Pseudocode: Step 1: [start] Begin
Step 2: [read value for radius]
Step 1: start
Input “r”
Step 2: take input “r”
Step 3: [compute perimeter “C”]
Step 3: C=2*3.141*r
C=2*3.141*r
Step 4: display “C” Step 4: [display result] Print “C”
Step 5: stop Step 5:[stop]
End
Write a Pseudocode and algorithm to compute the area of circle for the given
radius.
Algorithm :
Step 1: [start]
Pseudocode: Begin
Step 1: start Step 2: [read value for radius]
Input “r”
Step 2: take input “r”
Step 3: [compute area]
Step 3: A=3.14*r*r A=3.14*r*r
Step 4: display “A” Step 4: [display result]
Print “A”
Step 5: stop
Step 5:[stop]
End
Write pseudocode and algorithm to compute an area of rectangle
Algorithm :
pseudocode : Step 1: [start]
Step 1: start Begin
Step 2: [read length and breadth]
Step 2: take input l,b
Input l,b
Step 3: A=l*b Step 3: [compute A]
A=l*b
Step 4: Print/display A
Step 4: [display result]
Step 5: stop Print A
Step 5:[stop]
End
Write pseudocode and algorithm to compute an perimeter of rectangle
Algorithm :
pseudocode : Step 1: [start]
Begin
Step 1: start Step 2: [read length and breadth]
Step 2: take input l,b Input l,b
Step 3: [compute Perimeter]
Step 3: Perimeter=2*(l+b)
Perimeter=2*(l+b) or
or Perimeter=2*l+2*b
Perimeter=2*l+2*b
Step 4: Print/display Step 4: [display result]
Perimeter Print Perimeter
Step 5:[stop]
Step 5: stop
End
Flowchart
