ALGORITHMS AND FLOWCHARTS

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• A typical programming task can be divided into

two phases:
• Problem solving phase
–produce an ordered sequence of steps that describe
solution of problem
–this sequence of steps is called an algorithm
• Implementation phase
–implement the program in some programming language
 Steps in Problem Solving Amity Institute of Information Technology

• First produce a general algorithm (one can use

pseudocode)
• Refine the algorithm successively to get step
by step detailed algorithm that is very close to
a computer language.
• Pseudocode is an artificial and informal
language that helps programmers develop
algorithms. Pseudocode is very similar to
everyday English.
Understanding Pseudo-Code Amity Institute of Information Technology
How to write Pseudocode Amity Institute of Information Technology
1.A computer can Receive Information
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2. A Computer can Put out Information
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3. A Computer can Perform Arithmetic
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Arithmetic Operators used in Pseudo-code
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4. Computer can assign value to a variable or
memory location Amity Institute of Information Technology
5. Computer can compare two variables and
select one of two alternative actionsAmity Institute of Information Technology
IF…THEN…ELSE…Construct
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IF…THEN…ELSE…Construct Amity Institute of Information Technology
6. Computer can repeat a group of actions
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The While construct Amity Institute of Information Technology
The While construct Amity Institute of Information Technology
Exercise Amity Institute of Information Technology
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The three essential programming constructs
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Meaningful Names Amity Institute of Information Technology
Rules for Pseudo-codes Amity Institute of Information Technology
Operators used in Pseudo-codesAmity Institute of Information Technology
Operators used in Pseudo-codesAmity Institute of Information Technology
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Order of Precedence Amity Institute of Information Technology
 Pseudocode & Algorithm Amity Institute of Information Technology

• Example 1: Write an algorithm to determine a student’s final grade and

indicate whether it is passing or failing. The final grade is calculated as the
average of four marks.
 Pseudocode & Algorithm Amity Institute of Information Technology

Pseudocode:
• Input a set of 4 marks
• Calculate their average by summing and
dividing by 4
• if average is below 50
Print “FAIL”
else
Print “PASS”
 Pseudocode & Algorithm Amity Institute of Information Technology

• Detailed Algorithm
• Step 1: Input M1,M2,M3,M4
Step 2: GRADE  (M1+M2+M3+M4)/4
Step 3: if (GRADE < 50) then
Print “FAIL”
else
Print “PASS”
endif
 The Flowchart Amity Institute of Information Technology

• (Dictionary) A schematic representation of a sequence

of operations, as in a manufacturing process or
computer program.
• (Technical) A graphical representation of the sequence
of operations in an information system or program.
–Information system flowcharts show how data flows from source
documents through the computer to final distribution to users.
–Program flowcharts show the sequence of instructions in a
single program or subroutine. Different symbols are used to
draw each type of flowchart.
 The Flowchart Amity Institute of Information Technology

A Flowchart
– shows logic of an algorithm
– emphasizes individual steps and their interconnections
– e.g. control flow from one action to the next
 Flowchart Symbols Amity Institute of Information Technology

Name Symbol Basic

Use in Flowchart

Oval Denotes the beginning or end of the program

Parallelogram Denotes an input operation

Rectangle Denotes a process to be carried out

e.g. addition, subtraction, division etc.

Diamond Denotes a decision (or branch) to be made.

The program should continue along one of
two routes. (e.g. IF/THEN/ELSE)

Hybrid Denotes an output operation

Flow line Denotes the direction of logic flow in the program

 Example Amity Institute of Information Technology

START
Step 1: Input M1,M2,M3,M4
Step 2: GRADE  (M1+M2+M3+M4)/4
Input
M1,M2,M3,M4
Step 3: if (GRADE <50) then
Print “FAIL”
else
GRADE(M1+M2+M3+M4)/4 Print “PASS”
endif
N IS Y
GRADE<5
0

PRINT PRINT
“PASS” “FAIL”

STOP
 Example 2 Amity Institute of Information Technology

• Write an algorithm and draw a flowchart to convert the length in feet to

centimeter.
Pseudocode:
• Input the length in feet (Lft)
• Calculate the length in cm (Lcm) by multiplying LFT with 30
• Print length in cm (LCM)
 Example 2 Amity Institute of Information Technology

Algorithm
Flowchart
• Step 1: Input Lft
START
• Step 2: Lcm  Lft x 30
• Step 3: Print Lcm
Input
Lft

Lcm  Lft x 30

Print
Lcm

STOP
 Example 3 Amity Institute of Information Technology

Write an algorithm and draw a flowchart that

will read the two sides of a rectangle and
calculate its area.
Pseudocode
• Input the width (W) and Length (L) of a
rectangle
• Calculate the area (A) by multiplying L with W
• Print A
 Example 3 Amity Institute of Information Technology

Algorithm
START
• Step 1: Input W,L
• Step 2: AL x W
Input
• Step 3: Print A W, L

ALxW

Print
A

STOP
 Flowcharts Amity Institute of Information Technology

• Flowcharts is a graph used to depict or show a step by step solution using

symbols which represent a task.
• The symbols used consist of geometrical shapes that are connected by
flow lines.
• It is an alternative to pseudocoding; whereas a pseudocode description is
verbal, a flowchart is graphical in nature.
 Flowchart Symbols Amity Institute of Information Technology

Terminal symbol - indicates the beginning and

end points of an algorithm.

Process symbol - shows an instruction other than

input, output or selection.

Input-output symbol - shows an input or an output

operation.

Disk storage I/O symbol - indicates input from or output to

disk storage.

Printer output symbol - shows hardcopy printer

output.
Flowchart Symbols cont… Amity Institute of Information Technology

Selection symbol - shows a selection process

for two-way selection.

Off-page connector - provides continuation of a

logical path on another page.

On-page connector - provides continuation

of logical path at another point in the same
page.

Flow lines - indicate the logical sequence of

execution steps in the algorithm.
Flowchart – sequence control structure
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Statement 1

Statement 2

Statement 3

:
Flowchart – selection control structure
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No Yes
Condition

else- then-
statement(s) statement(s)
Flowchart – repetition control structure
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yes Loop
Condition
Statement(s)

no
 Flowchart – example 1 Amity Institute of Information Technology

Begin

Read birth date

Calculate
Age = current year – birth date

Display
age

End
 Flowchart – example 2 Amity Institute of Information Technology

Begin

Read age

YES Age > 55? NO

print “Pencen” print “Kerja lagi”

End
 Flowchart – example 5 Amity Institute of Information Technology

Begin

sum = 0
current_number = 1

NO
current_number <= 10? print sum

YES
End
sum = sum + current_number
current_number = current_number + 1
 Example 4 Amity Institute of Information Technology

• Write an algorithm and draw a flowchart that

will calculate the roots of a quadratic equation
ax 2 + bx + c = 0
• Hint: d = sqrt ( b2 − 4ac), and the roots are:
x1 = (–b + d)/2a and x2 = (–b – d)/2a
 Exercises: Algorithm & Flowchart Amity Institute of Information Technology

1.) Create an algorithm and a flowchart that will accept/read two numbers and
then display the bigger number.
 Exercises: Algorithm & Flowchart Amity Institute of Information Technology

2.) Create an algorithm and a flowchart that will compute the area of a circle.
 Exercises: Algorithm & Flowchart Amity Institute of Information Technology

3.) Create an algorithm and a flowchart that will compute the sum of two
numbers. If the sum is below or equal to twenty, two numbers will be entered
again. If the sum is above 20, it will display the sum.
 Lab Activity: Algorithm & Flowchart Amity Institute of Information Technology

4) Create an algorithm and a flowchart that will output the largest number
among the three numbers.
 Amity Institute of Information Technology

Assignment 1

1. Create an algorithm and a flowchart that will output for g.c.d.

2. Create an algorithm and a flowchart that will output the factorial of a
given number.
3. Create an algorithm and a flowchart that will output the Fibonacci
series up to a given number.
4. Create an algorithm and a flowchart that will output all the prime
numbers between 2 numbers.
 Amity Institute of Information Technology

•Origin: Derived from the Latin form of Al-Khwārizmī

•Definition: A well-defined computational procedure
•Input/Output: Takes input values and produces output values
•Process: A sequence of steps transforming input into output
•Purpose: A tool for solving well-specified computational
problems