CSC415

Course CO1 CO2 CO3 CO4

Outcomes
Learning LO1, LO2 L01,LO2
outcome

Lesson Outcome :
Learn the program development life cycle (C1,A1)
Explore and apply the process of problem solving techniques (C1,C3)
Identify and write the algorithm (C2, P1)

Problem Solving
Programming is a process of problem solving
Problem solving techniques
o Analyze the problem
o Outline the problem requirements
o Design steps (algorithm) to solve the problem
o
Algorithm:
o Step-by-step problem-solving process
o Solution achieved in finite amount of time

Problem Solving Process

Step 1

Analyze the problem

Thoroughly understand the problem

Outline the problem and its requirements

Understand problem requirements

Does program require user interaction?
Does program manipulate data?
What is the output?

If the problem is complex, divide it into subproblems

Analyze each subproblem as above

Design steps (algorithm) to solve the problem

If problem was broken into subproblems
o Design algorithms for each subproblem

Check the correctness of algorithm

o Can test using sample data
o Some mathematical analysis might be required

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Step 2
Implement the algorithm in code
1. Write the Code
Once the algorithm is designed and correctness verified
Write the equivalent code in high-level language (C++)
Enter the program using text editor

2. Compiling and Linking

Run code through compiler
If compiler generates errors
Look at code and remove errors
Run code again through compiler
If there are no syntax errors
Compiler generates equivalent machine code
Linker links machine code with system resources

3. The Loader and Executing

Once compiled and linked, loader can place program into main memory for
execution
The final step is to execute the program
Compiler guarantees that the program follows the rules of the language
Does not guarantee that the program will run correctly

Verify that the algorithm works

Step 3
Maintenance
Use and modify the program if the problem domain changes

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Errors can be made during coding which prevent the successful compiling and linking.
Common errors :
Syntax error = caused by a typographical errors and incorrect use of the
programming language.
Logic error = an error due to incorrect order of statements, incorrect formula others
that can cause the incorrect output.
Runtime error = occurs when a program gives the computer instructions that it is
incapable of executing. Causes a program to terminate abnormally (crash or abort).

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Algorithm

Algorithm in Real Life

Consider the following .

Problem: Baking a Cake

How to solve:
1. Start
2. Preheat the oven at 180oC
3. Prepare a baking pan
4. Beat butter with sugar
5. Mix them with flour, eggs and essence vanilla
6. Pour the dough into the baking pan
7. Put the pan into the oven
8. End

Structured Design in Algorithm

Problem: Prepare a Breakfast

Step 1 :
1. Start
2. Prepare a Breakfast
3. End

Step 2 :
1. Start
2. Prepare a Breakfast
2.1 Prepare a tuna sandwich
2.2 Prepare some chips
2.3 Make a cup of coffee
3. End

Step 3 :

1. Start
2. Prepare a Breakfast
2.1. Prepare a tuna sandwich
2.1.1 Take 2 slices of bread
2.1.2 Prepare tuna paste
2.2. Prepare some chips
2.2.1 Cut potatoes into slices
2.2.2 Fry the potatoes

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2.3. Make a cup of coffee

2.3.1 Boil water
2.3.2 Add water with sugar and coffee
3. End

What is the connection between these real life processes and algorithm?

Algorithm
A specific and step-by-step set of instructions for carrying out a procedure or solving
a problem, usually with the requirement that the procedure terminate at some point
2 types of algorithm representation will be explained:
o Flowchart
o Pseudocode/Algorithm

Flowchart
Flowchart represents algorithm graphically. It is intended for communication and
documentation

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Flowchart Basic Syntax

Symbol Semantic
Start/End
Process

Input/Output

Test
Connector
Flow of activities

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Problem Solving Process

Input Process Output

Example 1 - Rectangle
Design an algorithm to find the perimeter and area of a rectangle
The perimeter and area of the rectangle are given by the following formulas:
perimeter = 2 * (length + width)
area = length * width

Example 1
Algorithm:
- Start
Get length of the rectangle
Get width of the rectangle
Find the perimeter using the following equation:
perimeter = 2 * (length + width)
- Find the area using the following equation:
area = length * width
- Display perimeter and area
- End

Example 2
Calculate and display the price of a number of apples if the quantity in kg and price per
kg are given.

Example 3
A car park has the following charges:
The 1st hour costs RM2.00. The subsequent hours cost RM1.00 per hour. Write an
algorithm based on a vehicles entry and exit time.

Example 4
Write a program to calculate the average mark of three CSC 125s students.
Calculate payCheck using the equation
payCheck = baseSalary + bonus + additionalBonus

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Structured Programming
Structured design:
Dividing a problem into smaller subproblems
Structured programming
Implementing a structured design
The structured design approach is also called
Top-down design
Stepwise refinement
Modular programming

ANSI/ISO STANDARD C++

C++ evolved from C
C++ designed by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Laboratories in early 1980s
C++ programs were not always portable from one compiler to another
In mid-1998, ANSI/ISO C++ language standards were approved

Algorithm Development Guidelines

Identify the input and output of the problem.
If necessary, use Divide & Conquer strategy to decompose the problem into smaller
and manageable sub problems. Decompose the problem until all the sub problems can
be solved to get the required results
For each sub problem, identify and list out the steps involved in solving it

Pseudocode /Algorithm
An outline of a program, written in a form that can easily be converted into real
programming statements. It resembles the actual program that will be implemented
later. However, it cannot be compiled nor executed.
Pseudocode normally codes the following actions:
Initialisation of variables
Assignment of values to the variables
Arithmetic operations
Relational operations

Example of Pseudocode

1. Start
2. Read quantity
3. Read price_per_kg
4. total = quantity * price_per_kg
5. Print total
6. End

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