Computational & Algorithmic Thinking

Course: CSCI 1250

Assignment: Assignment 1 ‐ Algorithmic Thinking

Computational Thinking

• Approaching a problem so a computer could help solve
  • Structured & logical

Algorithm

• Ordered instructions to tell the computer how to do something
  • Has to be sequential & unambiguous/clear

Abstraction

• Only including the important information; removing the unnecessary information
  • High Level → less information (Python)
  • Low Level → more information (C)

Decomposition

• Breaking a problem into smaller parts
• Breaking a large problem, such as only allowing admins to upload files to:
  1. Getting a user from the database
  2. Checking if the user has the ADMIN role
  3. Allowing the user to upload files

Pseudocode

• Writing steps thats like “code”, but in words rather than a programming language

• Assumptions are necessary for pseudocode

• Example Instructions:
  1. Crack 2 eggs
  2. Whisk the eggs
  3. Pour into pan
  4. Scramble with spatula until done
• Example Pseudocode:
  1. Get two eggs
  2. Get a bowl
  3. Get spatula
  4. Get pan
  5. Get stove
  6. Loop twice:
     1. Crack egg into bowl
  7. Whisk until homogenous
  8. Heat pan on medium heat
  9. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to pan
  10. Pour contents of bowl into pan
  11. Scramble with spatula until cooked
  12. Enjoy 😋

Flowcharts

• A way to map out steps of an algorithm in a graphical form

flowchart TD

A(Begin)

--> B[/Numeric Grade/]

--> B1{grade > 90}

B1 -- YES --> C1[set grade to 'A']

B1 -- NO --> B2{grade > 80}

B2 -- YES --> C2[set grade to 'B']

B2 -- NO --> B3{grade > 70}

B3 -- YES --> C3[set grade to 'C']

B3 -- NO --> B4{grade > 60}

B4 -- YES --> C4[set grade to 'D']

B4 -- NO --> C5[set grade to 'F']