CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO
PROBLEM SOLVING
Chapter1 1
 Introduction
• Algorithm
– A sequence of precise instructions that
leads to a solution

• Program
– An algorithm expressed in a language the
computer can understand

Chapter1 2
Creating Computer Solutions to
Problems (continued)

3
 Analyzing the Problem
• Analyze a problem to:
– Determine the goal of solving it
• Output
– Determine the items needed to achieve that goal
• Input
– PROCESS
• Always search first for the output

4
 Introduction (cont.)

Example:

Chapter1 5
 Introduction (cont.)
• Programming is a creative process
– No complete set of rules for creating a program

Chapter1 6
 Programming Process

• Program Design Process

– Problem Solving Phase
• Result is an algorithm that solves the problem
– Implementation Phase
• Result is the algorithm translated into a programming
language
• Be certain the task is completely specified
– What is the input?
– What information is in the output?
– How is the output organized?

Chapter1 7
 Programming Process (cont.)
• Develop the algorithm before implementation
– Experience shows this saves time in getting your
program to run.
– Test the algorithm for correctness

Chapter1 8
 Programming Process (cont.)
Implementation Phase
• Translate the algorithm into a programming
language
• Compile the source code
– Locates errors in using the programming language

• Run the program on sample data

– Verify correctness of results

• Results may require modification of

the algorithm and program

Chapter1 9
Programming Process (cont.)

Chapter1 10
 Programming Process (cont.)
Example:
• STEP 1: PROBLEM ANALYSIS
– Purpose:
• To describe in details a solution to a problem by
providing the needed information for the problem.
– How?
• First, understand & study the problem.
– Identify:
• The input to the problem.
• The required output.
• The relevant process. For example, scientific formula
or appropriate theories if any.

Chapter1 11
 Programming Process (cont.)
Problem : Write a program that get 3 numbers as
input from user. Find the average and display the
numbers and the average.
Problem Analysis:
Input: 3 numbers.
Process: 1. Add the numbers
2. Divide the total with 3
Output: The 3 numbers and average

Chapter1 12
 Programming Process (cont.)

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Chapter1 13
 Programming Process -
Representation Method
• STEP 2: PROGRAM DESIGN
• Definition: It defines the framework or the
flow for the problem solution
1. Algorithm
– Algorithm is a sequence of instructions to solve a
problem written in human language and problem
can be solved if follow the correct procedure
– A programmer writes the solution in the form of an
algorithm before coding it into computer language.

Chapter1 14
 Programming Process -
Representation Method (cont.)
Example of algorithm to calculate the average of 3
numbers:

1. Enter first number, second number and third number

2. Total up the 3 numbers
Total= first number +second number + third
number OR
Calculate the total by adding all the numbers.
3. Calculate average
average=Total/3
4. Display 3 numbers and the average
Chapter1 15
 Programming Process -
Representation Method (cont.)
2. Pseudocode
• Steps in problem solving written in certain of
programming code and certain in human language.
• For example, some part use C++ language code
and some part use English-like phrases.

Chapter1 16
 Programming Process -
Representation Method (cont.)
START
INPUT first number, second number, third number
Total = first number + second number + third
number
average = Total / 3
OUTPUT first number, second number, third
number, average

END

Chapter1 17
 Programming Process -
Representation Method (cont.)
3. Flowchart
• A graphical representation of data, information and
process or an orderly step-by-step solution to a
problem.

Chapter1 18
 Planning the Algorithm (continued)
• Flowcharts are also used to plan an algorithm
– Use standardized symbols
– Symbols connected with flowlines
– Oval: start/stop symbol
– Rectangle: process symbol
• Represents tasks such as calculations
– Parallelogram: input/output symbol
• Represents I/O tasks

19
 Programming Process -
Representation Method (cont.)
Start
Example:
Input a, b, c

Total = a + b + c

average = Total / 3

Display a, b, c
Display average

End

Chapter1 20
 Programming Process -
Representation Method (cont.)
STEPS 3: PROGRAM CODING
• Definition: Write a solution into a specific
programming language such as C, C++, COBOL
and etc.
• Solution: Instructions before it is coded into
programming language.
• Purpose: To produce a program to develop a
system.

Chapter1 21
 Creating Computer Solutions to
Problems
• Analysis tools: IPO charts, pseudocode, flowcharts
• To desk-check or hand-trace, use pencil, paper,
and sample data to walk through algorithm
• A coded algorithm is called a program

22
Analyzing the Problem (continued)

23
 IPO Charts
• Use an IPO chart to organize and summarize the
results of a problem analysis
– IPO: Input, Processing, and Output

24
IPO Charts (continued)

25
IPO Charts (continued)

26
 Analyzing the Problem (continued)
• First, reduce the amount of information you need to
consider in your analysis:

27
 Analyzing the Problem (continued)
• Worse than having too much information is not
having enough information to solve problem:

28
 Analyzing the Problem (continued)
• Distinguish between information that is missing and
information that is implied:

29
 Planning the Algorithm
• Algorithm: set of instructions that will transform the
problem’s input into its output
– Record it in the Processing column of the IPO chart
• Processing item: intermediate value used by
algorithm when processing input into output
• Pseudocode is a tool programmers use to help
them plan an algorithm
– Short English statements

30
Planning the Algorithm (continued)

31
Planning the Algorithm (continued)

32
 Planning the Algorithm (continued)
• A problem can have more than one solution:

33
 Hints for Writing Algorithms

This problem specification is almost identical to the one shown

earlier in Figure 2-4

34
 Hints for Writing Algorithms
(continued)
You may use a portion of a previous solution to solve current problem

35
Desk-Checking the Algorithm

36
Desk-Checking the Algorithm
(continued)

37
 Desk-Checking the Algorithm
(continued)
• Valid data is data that the programmer is
expecting the user to enter
• Invalid data is data that he or she is not expecting
the user to enter
• You should test an algorithm with invalid data
– Users may make mistakes when entering data

38
The Gas Mileage Problem

39
The Gas Mileage Problem (continued)
• After planning the algorithm, you desk-check it:

40
 Summary
• Problem-solving typically involves analyzing the
problem, and then planning, reviewing, implementing,
evaluating, and modifying (if necessary) the solution
• Programmers use tools (IPO charts, pseudocode,
flowcharts) to help them analyze problems and
develop algorithms
– During analysis, you determine the output and input
– During planning, you write the steps that will transform
the input into the output

41
 Summary (continued)
• After the analysis and planning, you desk-check
the algorithm
– Follow each of the steps in algorithm by hand
• Coding refers to translating the algorithm into a
language that the computer can understand
• Before writing an algorithm, consider whether you
have already solved a similar problem

Source: An Introduction to Programming with C++, Fifth Edition

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