Fundamentals of Computer 20CS11T 2020-21

UNIT V: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

• PROGRAM
➢ A Program consists of a sequence of instructions that is given to a
computer .
➢ The collection of instructions forms a program.
OR
➢ A computer program is a sequence of instructions written using a
Computer Programming Language to perform a specified task by the
computer.
➢ A program is used as a synonym for software.

• ALGORITHM
• An algorithm is defined as a finite sequence of instructions that when
provided with a set of input values produces an output and then
terminates.
• To be an algorithm, the steps must be unambiguous and after a finite number
of steps, the solution of the problem should be achieved.
• However, algorithms can have steps that repeat (iterate) or require decisions
(logic and comparison) until the task is completed.
• The need of an algorithm can be understood as it provides a logical
structure to plan the solution.
1. Algorithm for adding two numbers
Step 1: Start
Step 2: Declare variables num1, num2 and sum.
Step 3: Read values for num1, num2.
Step 4: Add num1 and num2 and assign the result to a variable sum.
Step 5: Display sum
Step 6: Stop

2. Algorithm for subtracting two numbers

Step 1: Start

Step 2: Read two numbers A and B

Step 3: Answer = A - B

Step 4: Display Answer

Step 5: Stop

3. Algorithm: To determine largest of three numbers

1. Start
2. Read three numbers A, B, C
3. Find the larger number between A and B and store it in MAX_AB

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Fundamentals of Computer 20CS11T 2020-21

4. Find the larger number between MAX_AB and C and store it in MAX
5. Display MAX=4
6. Stop

4. Algorithm: To determine smallest of three numbers

1. Start
2. Read three numbers A=1, B=3, C=5
3. Find the smaller number between A and B and store it in MIN_AB=1
4. Find the smaller number between MIN _AB=1 and C=5 and store it in MIN=1
5. Display MIN=1
6. Stop

5. Algorithm : Calculate and print sum of 'N' numbers

Step 1 : Start
Step 2 : Read how many numbers are to be considered for sum i.e addition &
store it in variable N
Step3 : Initialize the variable sum=0 & count=0
Step 4: Read the first number & store it in A
Step 5: Compute sum=sum+A
Step 6 :Compute count=count+1
Step 7: Check whether the value of COUNT is less than n i.e “count<N”, if
yes repeat the steps 4,5,6 other go to next step i,e 8
Step 8 : Print sum
Step 9 : Stop

FLOWCHART
• A flowchart is a pictorial representation of an algorithm.

• Here each steps are drawn in the form of different shapes of boxes and the
logical flow is indicated by arrows or flow lines.
• The boxes represent operations and the arrows represent the sequences
• The use of the flowchart is to help the programmer understand the logic of the
program.

Importance of Flowcharts
• A flowchart helps to check how to work on problem and how they could be
improved.
• It help to draw clear lines between where one process ends and the next one
starts.

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Fundamentals of Computer 20CS11T 2020-21

• Flowchart Symbols

• Flowchart Structures

• Sequence, where information can flow in a straight line or one by one.

• Selection (branched), where the decisions are made according to some
predefined condition.
• Repetition, where the logic repeat in a loop, that is, where a sequence of steps
is repeated until the desired output is obtained.

• Sequence
• As the name implies, in a sequence structure, the instructions are computed one
by one.

Example :Addition of two numbers:

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• Selection
• A selection structure allows the program to make a choice between two alternate
paths, depending upon the condition, whether it is true or false.
The flowchart, finds out the maximum / LARGEST of three numbers.

• Repetition
• Repetition or loop pattern causes an interruption in the normal sequence of
processing and directs the system to loop back to a previous statement in the
program, repeating the same sequence over and again, usually with new data.
Example: The flowchart, finds out the average of N numbers.

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• here are two forms of decision making constructs

• IF- THEN construct
• IF- ELSE construct
• IF-THEN construct: IF – THEN is the most basic of decision making.
The flowchart of IF-THEN construct can be expressed as:

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1. Algorithm to find the sum of first ‘n’ natural numbers

Step 1: Start
Step 2 : Initialize sum=0
Step 3: Read the value of n
Step 4: IF (n > 0) THEN
sum= sum+n
n=n-1
ENDIF
Step 5: print sum
Step 6: Stop

Generations of Languages
There are five generation of Programming languages. They are:
First Generation Language: Machine language
▪ These are low-level languages like machine language.
▪ Computers are electronic devices which can understand only binary codes.
▪ These binary codes are 0s and 1s also called as machine codes.
▪ Machine language is the only language a computer is able to understand.
▪ Language translators are not used here.
▪ This language is machine dependent.
▪ They are difficult to remember and understand for human beings

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Ex: 00000011001
Advantages of machine language:
• Translation free: They are translation free and can be directly executed by the
computers. Because computer can easily understand.
• High Speed: The programs written in these languages are executed very fast
as no translation is required.
• Efficient memory usage: The programs written in these languages utilize the
memory in an efficient manner.
Disadvantages of machine language:
• Machine dependent: A program developed in one computer cannot be run in
another computer. So it is very costly.
• Complex Or difficult language: It is difficult to read and write this
language.
• Error prone: Since programmer has to remember all instructions in binary
code, more chances of making errors.
Second Generation Languages [2GL]: Assembly language
▪ These assembly languages allows user to interact directly with hardware.
▪ These use mnemonic codes.
▪ Better readable than binary or machine language.
▪ Assembly language is also low-level programming language for a computer
▪ These are machine dependent languages.
▪ Translators called assemblers are used here.
▪ Assemblers are translators used to translate Assembly language into machine
language Ex: NASM, MASM, etc.
▪ It looks like MOV A ,B

Advantages of Assembly language

• Easy to understand and use: Assembly language uses mnemonics instead
of binary codes. Hence programs written in assembly language are easier
than machine language.
• Less error prone: Since mnemonics are used, programmer can keep track
of instructions storage.

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Fundamentals of Computer 20CS11T 2020-21

• Control on hardware: Assembly language gives direct access to hardware

.So it is easy to control the machine.
Disadvantages of Assembly language
• Machine dependent: Different computers have their own architecture and
assembly language.So they are not portable.
• Harder to learn: Being a machine dependent language,programmers have
to learn different assembly programs for different computers.
• Less efficient: IT is less efficient compared to machine language.

• No support for modern technology.

Third Generation Languages : High level language
▪ These are high level languages similar to English language.
▪ High level languages are human readable and easy to understand.
▪ A high-level language is designed to simplify computer programming.
▪ High-level source code contains easy-to-read syntax
▪ But machines cannot understand high level language.
▪ It requires a translator to convert into a machine-level language
▪ Translators called compilers and interpreters are used.
▪ Example for high-level languages are C, C++, Java, Visual Basic and
JavaScript.

Advantages of high-level language

• Easy to develop and understand: It is easy to develop, learn and understand
the program.
• Less error prone: As the program written in these languages are less prone to
errors, they are easy to maintain.
• Machine independent: Programs written in high level language can be used
in other computers also with very little or no change. They are portable.
• Easy to maintain: Programs are easily upgradable.
• Easy debugging: Programmers can easily debug using compilers and
interpreters

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• Less development cost: The program written in these languages can be

developed in very less time and cost as compared to the first- and second-
generation language.
Disadvantages of high-level language:
• Requires language translator
• Poor control on hardware:
Fourth Generation Languages:
▪ They bring advancement in third-generation programming languages (3GL).
▪ Languages in 4GL support for database management, GUI development, or
web development.
▪ These are languages similar to statements in the human language.
▪ These languages are more programmer-friendly, powerful.
▪ These are used mainly in database programming and scripting. Example of
these languages include Perl, Python, Ruby, SQL, MatLab.
Advantages of fourth generation languages
• allow the efficient use of data by using database.
• They require less time, cost and effort to develop software applications.
• These language programs are highly portable as compared other
programming languages.
Fifth Generation Languages:
▪ Based on problem-solving given to the computer, rather than using an
algorithm written by a programmer.
▪ logic-based programming languages are fifth-generation languages.
▪ fifth-generation languages are designed to make the computer solve a given
problem without the programmer.
▪ This way, the user only needs to worry about what problems need to be
solved and what conditions need to be met, without worrying about how to
implement a routine or algorithm to solve them.
▪ Fifth-generation languages are used mainly in artificial intelligence research.
▪ These have visual tools to develop a program. Examples of fifth generation
language include Mercury, OPS5, and Prolog.
Advantages of fifth generation languages
• These languages can be used to query the database in a fast and efficient
manner.

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• In this generation of language, the user can communicate with the computer
system in a simple and an easy manner.
Variables
•
Variables are the names given to computer memory locations.
•
They are used to store values in a computer program.
Examples of valid variable names:
age, gender, x25, reg_num, _book.

There are some rules for naming a variable

• The name of a variable can be composed of letters, digits, and the underscore
character.
• It must begin with either a letter or an underscore.
• Upper and lowercase letters are distinct.
• A variable name can hold a single type of value.
• Use only a....z, A....Z, 0....9 in your variable names and start their names using
alphabets only instead of digits.
• Almost none of the programming languages allow to start their variable names
with a digit.
Constants
Constants refer to fixed values that the program may not alter during its execution.
These fixed values are also called literals
Integer Literals
An integer literal can be a decimal, octal, or hexadecimal constant. Here are some
examples of integer literals −
212

Floating-point Literals
A floating-point literal has an integer part, a decimal point, a fractional part, and an
exponent part. Example:3.14159
Character Constants
Character literals are enclosed in single quotes, e.g., 'x' can be stored in a simple
variable of char type.
String Literals
String literals or constants are enclosed in double quotes " ".
“Hello”.

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