Problem Solving with
Computer
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Introduction
• Number of problems in our daily life.
• Suppose we have to calculate Simple
Interest.
• Suppose we have to prepare a mark
sheet.
• A computer cannot do anything alone
without software i.e. Program
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• A software is a set of programs written
to solve a particular problem
• Software is a set of instructions on the
basis of which computer gives
output/result.
• If the instructions are not correct,
the computer gives wrong result.
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Never Ever Forget
• Just writing code is not sufficient to
solve a problem.
• Program must be planned before
coding in any computer language
available.
• There are many activities to be done
before and after writing code.
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Stages while solving a problem using
computer
1. Problem Analysis
2. Algorithm Development
3. Flowcharting
4. Coding
5. Compilation and
Execution
6. Debugging and Testing
7. Documentation
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Problem Analysis
Algorithm Development
Flowcharting
Program Coding
Compilation and Execution
Debugging and Testing
Documentation
Steps in problem solving
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1. Problem Analysis
• Process of becoming familiar with the problem.
• We need to analyze and understand it well
before solving.
• The user’s requirements cannot be fulfilled without
clear understanding of his/her problem in depth.
• Inadequate identification of problem may
cause program less useful and insufficient.
• Example: Banking Solution, Hospital Medical Study
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2. Algorithm Development
• Step By Step description of the
method to solve a problem.
• Effective procedure for solving a
problem in finite number of steps.
• Developing an algorithm is a step of
program design.
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An algorithm to find sum of two
numbers:
Step 1: Start
Step 2: Assume two numbers x and y and a variable
sum=0
Step 3: Add two numbers x and y; store the value in
variable sum
Step 4: If you want to try again with different
numbers then goto step 2
else
goto step 5
Step 5: END 9
An algorithm to find sum of two
numbers:
Step 1: Start
Step 2: Declare variables num1, num2 and
sum.
Step 3: Read values num1 and num2.
Step 4: Add num1 and num2 and assign the result to
sum. sum←num1+num2
Step 5: Display sum
Step 6: Stop
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An algorithm to find largest of three
different numbers:
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Three features of Algorithm
• 1. Sequence
– Each step in the algorithm in executed in specified order. If not algorithm
will fail.
• 2. Decision
– We have to make decision to do something.
– If the outcome of the decision is true, one thing is done otherwise other.
• If condition then process1
OR
• If condition
then process1
Else process2
• 3. Repetition
– For example,
Repeat
Fill Water in the kettle
Until Kettle is full
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3. Flowcharting
• Graphical representation of an algorithm using
standard symbols.
• Includes a set of various standard shaped boxes
that are interconnected by flow lines.
• Flow lines have arrows(direction of flow).
• Activities are written within boxes in English.
• Communicates between programmers and
business persons.
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Advantages of Flowcharts
• Communication
– Quickly provide logic, ideas and descriptions of
algorithms.
• Effective Analysis
– Clear overview of the entire problem.
• Proper Documentation
– Documents the steps followed in an algorithm.
– Helps us understand its logic in future.
• Efficient Coding
– More ease with comprehensive flowchart as a guide
• Easy in debugging and program
maintenance
– Debugging and maintenance of operating program 14
Flowchart
Symbols
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Things to consider
• There should be start and stop to the
flowchart.
• Only one flow line should emerge
from a process symbol.
• Only one flow line should enter a
decision symbol, but two or three flow
lines can leave the decision symbol.
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Problem: Write an algorithm and draw
flowchart for finding the sum of any two
numbers.
Algorithm
Step1: Start
Step2: Display “Enter two
numbers”.
Step3: Read A and B
Step4: C= A+B
Step5: Display “C as sum of two
numbers”
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Step6: Stop
Flowchart
START Start
Read two
Numbers, A and
Input
B
C=A+B Processing
Display C as Sum of A
and B
Output
END End
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4. Coding
• The process of transforming the program logic
design into computer language format.
• An act of transforming operations in each box of the
flowchart in terms of the statement of the program.
• The code written using programming language is also
known as source code.
• Coding isn’t the only task to be done to solve a problem
using computer.
• Anyone can code. TRUST ME!!
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Compilation
• Process of changing high level language into
machine level language.
• It is done by special software, COMPILER
• The compilation process tests the program whether it
contains syntax errors or not.
• If syntax errors are present, compiler can not
compile the code.
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Execution
• Once the compilation is completed then the
program is linked with other object programs
needed for execution, there by resulting in a
binary program and then the program is loaded
in the memory for the purpose of execution and
finally it is executed.
• The program may ask user for inputs and
generates outputs after processing the inputs.
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Debugging and Testing
• Debugging is the discovery and
correction of programming errors.
• Some errors may remain in the program
because the designer/programmer might have
never thought about a particular case.
• When error appears debugging is necessary.
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Debugging and Testing
• Testing ensures that program performs correctly
the required task.
• Verification ensures that program does what
the programmer intends to do.
• Validation ensures that the program produces
the correct results for a set of test data.
• Test data are supplied to the program and
output is observed.
• Expected output = Error free
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Program Documentation
• Helps to those who use, maintain and extend
the program in future.
• A program may be difficult to understand
even to programmer who wrote the code
after some days.
• Properly documented program is
necessary which will be useful and
efficient in debugging, testing,
maintenance and redesign process.
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Two types of documentations
1. Programmer’s Documentation
(Technical Documentation)
• Maintain, redesign and upgrade
• Logic, DFD, E-R, algorithm and flowchart
2. User Documentation (User Manual)
• Support to the user of the program
• Instructions for installation of the program
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Compiler
• A high level source program must be translated into a form
machine can understand. This done by software called the
compiler.
• Source code => Machine language code(Object code)
• During the process of translation, the compiler reads the
source
programs statement-wise and checks for syntax errors.
• In case of any error, the computer generates message
about the error.
• Ex: C, C++, Java, FORTRAN, pascal etc.
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Interpreter
• Like compiler, it is also a translator which translates high
level to machine level language.
• Translates and executes the program line by line.
• Each line is checked for syntax error and then converted
to the equivalent machine code.
• Ex. QBASIC, PERL, PHP, ASP, PYTHON, RUBY
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