Algorithmic Problem Solving
Algorithm
“An algorithm is a set of instruction for a
specific task”
Characteristics of Algorithms
• Well-ordered
• Unambiguous operations
• Effective Computational Operations
• Input
• Has a result
• Takes a finite amount of time
Building Blocks of Algorithms
• Statements
• State
• Control Flow
• Sequence
• Selection
• Repetition
• Functions
• Pseudocode
• Flowcharts
Sequence
Write an algorithm to compute the area of trapezium.
Algorithm: Area of Trapezium
Input: Three floating point variables a, b, h
Output: The Floating point variable area
Step1: Start
Step2: Read “Enter the values of two bases and
height”, a, b, h.
Step3: Compute the area
Area=0.5*(a+b)*h
Step4: Write “the area of trapezium”, area.
Step 5: Stop
Selection
The algorithm chooses one of them any alternatives for
execution.
Example: An algorithm to compute the larger of two numbers
Algorithm: Larger Of Two
Input: Two integer numbers a, b.
Output: The largest among a and b
Step1: Start
Step2: Read “Enter the values of a and b”,a, b
Step 3: If a>b then
Step4: Write “The greatest value is”, a
Step5: Else
Step6: Write “The greatest value is”,b
Step 7: Stop
Repetition
One or more steps of the algorithm are executed repeatedly
for a finite number of times.
Example: An algorithm to compute sum of natural numbers
Algorithm: SumOfNatural
Input: Three integer numbers i, max and sum
Output: The Sum of natural numbers
Step1: Start
Step2: Read the maximum number of natural numbers
as max
Step3: For I in range 1 to max repeat the following
steps
Step3.1:sum←sum+i
Step4: Write the sum of natural numbers as sum.
Step 5: Stop
Functions
Cohesive self contained block of code that
perform specific functionalities.
• Help us to write modular codes which in
turn make debugging easier
• Help to write code which is reusable
• Help in program maintenance.
Example: Write an algorithm to compute the area of a
triangle using user-defined function called Area of
Triangle() that accepts the base and height and returns the
computed area.
Algorithm: AreaOfTriangle(b,h)
Step 1: area = 0.5*b*h
Step 2: return area
Algorithm: Main Procedure
Step1: Start
Step2: Write “Program to compute the area of triangle”
Step3: Read “Enter the value of base”, b
Step4: Read “Enter the value of height”,h
Step 5: a= AreaofTriangle(b,h)
Step6: Write “the area of triangle is”,a
Step 7: Stop
Pseudocode
Write a pseudocode to check whether the entered
number is prime or not
Read a number as num
For I in range (2,n) repeat the following steps
If n mod I equals0
Write “The number is not prime”
Break
Else
Write “The number is prime”
Pseudocode Meaning
← Assignment Symbol=
Read To read data from keyboard or file
Write To Write data to standard output
Or file
For I in range1toN For loop for iteration
If If conditional statement
Else Else part of IF conditional
statement
Notations
PreparedBy,Dr.SaranyaKG
PreparedBy,Dr.SaranyaKG
• Assignment Symbol
←or=
Is used to assign value to the variable.
e.g. to assign value 5 to the variable
HEIGHT, statement is
HEIGHT←5
or
HEIGHT=5
• The symbol ‘=’ is used in most of the
programming language as an assignment
symbol, the same has been used in all
the algorithms and flowcharts.
• The statement C = A + B means that add the
value stored in variable A and variable B
then assign/store the value in variable C.
• The statement R=R+1means that add I to
the value stored in variable R and then
assign/store the new value in variable R
Mathematical Operators
Relational Operators
Algorithm & Flowchart to find the sum of two
numbers
Step-1: Start
Step-2: Input first numbers say A
Step-3: Input second number say B
Step-4: SUM = A + B
Step-5: Display SUM
Step-6: Stop
