Programming ……………
Problem Solving
+
Implementation
Programming….
Programming is a two phase process…
Problem Solving Phase
Analysis and Specification
Understand (define) the problem and what the solution must do.
General Solution (Algorithm)
Logical Sequence of Steps
Verify
Dry run
Phases
…
Implementation Phase
Concrete Solution
Algorithm → Program
Test/Evaluate
Manual/Automated
Maintenance
Improvements
Programming!!
!
Problem Solving…. Clue for Learning
(CFL)
Finding Solution is not enough….
The Process to Solution
AND
The Effectiveness of Solution
Are As much Important
Problem solving Requires
Determination……..CFL
Problem Solving……Mistakes (CFLs:)
You will make mistakes;
Accept it.
This is normal and you learn from them.
Do not avoid risking making them.
The Process is MORE important than ANSWER
Solution is not always complex;
Sometimes a simple solution can fix a complex problem.
“An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow
field.”Niels Bohr
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” Albert Einstein
Problem Solving……Simplicity (CFLs:)
“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a
touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.”
Albert Einstein
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”
Albert Einstein
Take the problem and break it down in to smaller and smaller chunks that
are now manageable.
Formalizing the Thinking Process!!!!
In day to day life, we come to a lot of problems and find solutions to them…..
Finding a solution starts with thinking….
We are going to formalize … What we are already doing
The First step/exercise: Transform the thoughts to Paper Natural Language
transformation of thoughts….
Swap contents of two containers… 1st Example
Formalizing the Thinking Process!!!!
Bottle Opening Problem [Class activity]
Write down a detailed list of instructions on how to open a bottle. [2 column form]
Have you considered all situations?
For example:
What if the bottle is upside does your routine still work?
What if the top is already off, does you routine still work?
Is your routine sufficiently detailed that if you gave it to someone they would follow exactly as
you expected?
Is there any other way it could have been done?
What type of bottle is being opened?
Does it work for all bottles?
You have produced the solution based on assumptions
Formalizing the Thinking Process!!!!
Making a cup of tea [Class activity]
Write down a detailed list of instructions on how to make a cup of tea. [2 column
form]
Have you considered all situations?
Give the list of steps to another class mate
Let’s see, how much the steps are clear to him
Have you made any assumptions?????
Let’s compare the lists of steps produced by students…..
What is an algorithm?
Before a computer can perform a task, it must
have an algorithm that tells it what to do.
Informally: “An algorithm is a set of steps that
define how a task is
performed.”
Formally: “An algorithm is an ordered set of unambiguous executable steps,
defining a terminating process.”
Ordered set of steps: structure!
Executable steps: doable!
Unambiguous steps: follow the directions!
Terminating: must have an end!
What is an algorithm? (Cont’d)
An algorithm is an ordered set of
unambiguous,
executable steps,
defining a terminating process.
Important Properties of Algorithms
Correct
always returns the desired output for all legal instances of the
problem.
Unambiguous
Precise
Efficient
Can be measured in terms of
Time
Space
Time tends to be more important
Representation of
Algorithms
A single algorithm can be represented in many ways:
Formulas: F = (9/5)C + 32
Words: Multiply the Celsius by 9/5 and add 32.
Flow Charts.
Pseudo-code.
In each case, the algorithm stays the same; the implementation differs!
Expressing
Algorithms
English description
Flow Chart More
More easily Pseudo-code
expressed precise
High-level programming language
Problem Solving….
1- Analysis and Specification
Input-Process-Output
(IPO)
Problem Analysis Chart (PAC)
Examples
Problem sets
2- Algorithm
Algorithmic Constructs
Flow Chart
Pseudo code
3- Test/Evaluate
Dry run
Analyze the Problem…
Thoroughly understand the problem
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
Analyze the Problem…
Example: Payroll Problem
Calculate the salary of an employee who works
by hourly basis. The formula to be used is
Salary = Hour works * Pay rate
Input Processing Output
Hours work, Salary = Hours work * payrate Salary
Pay rate
Problem 1
Write a Problem Analysis Chart (PAC) to convert
the distance in miles to kilometers where
1.609 kilometers per mile.
Input Processing Output
Distance in Kilometers = Distance in
miles 1.609 x miles kilometers
Problem 2
Write a Problem Analysis Chart (PAC) to find an
area of a circle where area = pi * radius * radius
Input Processing Output
radius area = 3.14 x radius x radius area
Problem 3
Write a Problem Analysis Chart (PAC) to compute and display
the temperature inside the earth in Celsius and Fahrenheit. The
relevant formulas are
Celsius = 10 x (depth) + 20
Fahrenheit = 1.8 x (Celsius) + 32
Input Processing Output
depth Step1: celsius = 10 x (depth) Display celsius,
+ 20 Display
Step2: fahrenheit = 1.8 x fahrenheit
(celsius) + 32
Problem 4
Write a problem analysis chart (PAC) that asks a user to enter the distance of
a trip in miles, the miles per gallon estimate for the user’s car, and the
average cost of a gallon of gas. Calculate and display the number of gallons of
gas needed and the estimated cost of the trip.
Input Processing Output
distance, Step1: gas needed = Display gas needed
miles per gallon, distance / miles per
cost per gallon gallon.
Display estimated cost
Step2: estimated cost
= cost per gallon x gas
needed
