Chapter 2 - Problem Solving
Program Development Cycle Programming Tools
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
Terminology tip
A computer program may also be called:
Project Application Solution
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
2.1 Program Development Cycle
Performing a Task on the Computer Program Planning
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
Program Development Cycle
Software refers to a collection of instructions for the computer The computer only knows how to do what the programmer tells it to do Therefore, the programmer has to know how to solve problems
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
Performing a Task on the Computer
Determine Output Identify Input Determine process necessary to turn given Input into desired Output
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
Problem-solving approach like algebra class
How fast is a car traveling if it goes 50 miles in 2 hours? Output: a number giving the rate of speed in miles per hour Input: the distance and time the car has traveled Process: rate = distance/time
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 6
Pictorial representation of the problem solving process
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
Program Planning
A recipe is a good example of a plan Ingredients and amounts are determined by what you want to bake Ingredients are input The way you combine them is the processing What is baked is the output
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 8
Program Planning Tips
Always have a plan before trying to write a program The more complicated the problem, the more complex the plan must be Planning and testing before coding saves time coding
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 9
Program development cycle
1. Analyze: Define the problem. 2. Design: Plan the solution to the problem. 3. Choose the interface: Select the objects (text boxes, buttons, etc.).
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
10
Program development cycle continued
4. Code: Translate the algorithm into a programming language. 5. Test and debug: Locate and remove any errors in the program. 6. Complete the documentation: Organize all the material that describes the program.
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 11
2.2 Programming Tools
Three tools used to convert algorithms into computer programs:
Flowcharts - Graphically depict the logical steps to carry out a task and show how the steps relate to each other. Pseudocode - Uses English-like phrases with some VB.NET terms to outline the program. Hierarchy charts - Show how the different parts of a program relate to each other.
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 12
Algorithms
A step by step series of instructions for solving a problem (a recipe is an example of an algorithm)
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
13
Problem solving example
How many stamps do you use when mailing a letter? One rule of thumb is to use one stamp for every five sheets of paper or fraction thereof.
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
14
Algorithm
1. Request the number of sheets of paper; call it Sheets. (input) 2. Divide Sheets by 5. (processing) 3. Round the quotient up to the next highest whole number; call it Stamps. (processing) 4. Reply with the number Stamps. (output)
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 15
Flowcharts
Graphically depict the logical steps to carry out a task and show how the steps relate to each other.
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
16
Flowchart symbols
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
17
Flowchart symbols continued
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
18
Flowchart example
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
19
Pseudocode
Uses English-like phrases with some VB.NET terms to outline the task.
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
20
Pseudocode example
Determine the proper number of stamps for a letter Read Sheets (input) Set the number of stamps to Sheets / 5 (processing) Round the number of stamps up to the next whole number (processing) Display the number of stamps (output)
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 21
Hierarchy charts
Show how the different parts of a program relate to each other Hierarchy charts may also be called structure charts HIPO (Hierarchy plus Input-Process-Output) charts top-down charts VTOC (Visual Table of Contents) charts
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 22
Hierarchy charts example
Each entry represents a module
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
23
Divide-and-conquer method
Used in problem solving take a large problem and break it into smaller problems solving the small ones first Breaks a problem down into modules
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
24
Statement structure
Sequence follow instructions from one line to the next without skipping over any lines Decision - if the answer to a question is Yes then one group of instructions is executed. If the answer is No, then another is executed Looping a series of instructions are executed over and over
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
25
Sequence flow chart
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
26
Decision flow chart
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
27
Looping flow chart
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
28
Direction of Numbered NYC Streets Algorithm
Problem: Given a street number of a one-way street in New York, decide the direction of the street, either eastbound or westbound Discussion: in New York even numbered streets are Eastbound, odd numbered streets are Westbound
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 29
Flowchart
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
30
Pseudocode
Program: Determine the direction of a numbered NYC street Get street If street is even Then Display Eastbound Else Display Westbound End If
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 31
Hierarchy Chart
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
32
Class Average Algorithm
Problem: Calculate and report the grade-point average for a class Discussion: The average grade equals the sum of all grades divided by the number of students Output: Average grade Input: Student grades Processing: Find the sum of the grades; count the number of students; calculate average
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 33
Flowchart
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
34
Pseudocode
Program: Determine the average grade of a class Initialize Counter and Sum to 0 Do While there are more data Get the next Grade Add the Grade to the Sum Increment the Counter Loop Computer Average = Sum/Counter Display Average
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 35
Hierarchy Chart
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
36
Comments
When tracing a flow chart, start at the start symbol and follow the flow lines to the end symbol Testing an algorithm at the flow chart stage is known as desk checking Flowcharts, pseudocode, and hierarchy charts are program planning tools that are not dependent on the programming language being used
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 37
Comments continued
There are four primary logical programming constructs sequence decision loop unconditional branch
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
38
Unconditional branch
Appear in some languages as Goto statements Involves jumping from one place in a program to another Structured programming uses the sequence, decision, and loop but forbids unconditional branch
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 39
Tips and tricks of flowcharts
Flowcharts are time-consuming to write and difficult to update For this reason, professional programmers are more likely to favor pseudocode and hierarchy charts Because flowcharts so clearly illustrate the logical flow of programming techniques, they are a valuable tool in the education of programmers
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 40
Tips and tricks of pseudocode
There are many styles of pseudocode Some programmers use an outline form Some use a form that looks almost like a programming language The case studies of this text focuses on the primary tasks to be performed by the program and leaves many of the routine details to be completed during the coding process
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider 41
Tips and tricks of hierarchy charts
Many people draw rectangles around each item in a hierarchy chart In the text, rectangles are omitted to encourage the use of hierarchy charts by making them easier to draw
Chapter 2 - VB.NET by Schneider
42
