Title: Programming Logic
Course: COP1000: Introduction to Programming > Section: Module Three

Introduction

In computer science, an algorithm is a step-by-step procedure for calculations. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning. More precisely, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithm)

A top-down approach (also known as stepwise design) is essentially the breaking down of a system to gain insight into its compositional sub-systems. In a top-down approach an overview of the system is formulated, specifying but not detailing any first-level subsystems. Each subsystem is then refined in yet greater detail, sometimes in many additional subsystem levels, until the entire specification is reduced to base elements. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top-down_and_bottom-up_design)

A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm or process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting these with arrows. This diagrammatic representation can give a step-by-step solution to a given problem. Process operations are represented in these boxes, and arrows connecting them represent flow of control. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowchart)

In computer science and numerical computation, pseudocode is an informal high-level description of the operating principle of a computer program or other algorithm. It uses the structural conventions of a programming language, but is intended for human reading rather than machine reading. Pseudocode typically omits details that are not essential for human understanding of the algorithm, such as variable declarations, system-specific code and some subroutines. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudocode)

Objectives

Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to:

Define the following: "Algorithm", "top-down approach", "flow chart", and "pseudocode"
Learn to write an algorithm using the top-down approach
Learn to create a flow chart from the algorithm
Write pseudocode from the flow chart

Readings & Resources

Chapter 6: Dragon Realm p. 75-76
Chapter 8: Flow Charts p. 89-100