KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT-IV
NAME:

CLASS: VI

TOPIC: PROBLEM SOLVING

DATE:

SUBJECT: I.T.

REF: ICT6/FA4/HT2/13-14

ALGORITHM:
In computing, a set of instructions implemented by a computer to arrive at a specific result.
A computer program is formed of several sets of instructions or Algorithm.
An Algorithm can be defined as a formal set of instruction that can be flowed to perform a
specific task such as solving a logical or a mathematical problem.

EXAMPLE:
What steps would you follow to buy a Notebook?
Step 1: Start
Step 2: Take money and go to the stationery shop near by your home.
Step 3: Tell the shopkeeper what kind of notebook you want.
Step 4: Get the Notebook from him.
Step 5: Pay him the money for the Notebook.
Step 6: Stop.

FLOWCHARTS:
A flowchart is a diagrammatic representation of a problem-solving process, in which steps are
laid out in logical order.
It is called a Flowchart, since it charts the flow of a program. In the flowchart technique, each
operation is represented by arrows to illustrate the sequence of operations.
The flowchart is a means of visually presenting the flow of data through an information
processing systems, the operations performed within the system and the sequence in which
they are performed.
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 Flowcharts facilitate communication between programmers and business people.

These flowcharts play a vital role in the programming of a problem and are quite helpful in
understanding the logic of complicated and lengthy problems.
Once the flowchart is drawn, it becomes easy to write the program in any high level language.
Often we see how flowcharts are helpful in explaining the program to others.
Hence, it is correct to say that a flowchart is a must for the better documentation of a complex
program.
GUIDELINES FOR DRAWING A FLOWCHART
Flowcharts are usually drawn using some standard symbols; however, some special symbols
can also be developed when required. Some standard symbols, which are frequently,
required for flowcharting many computer programs.
Start or end of the program

Computational steps or processing function of a program

Input or output operation

Decision making and branching

Connector or joining of two parts of program

Off-page connector

Flow line
Display
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RULES OF FLOWCHARTING:
The rules followed in flowcharting are:
The general direction of flow in any flowchart is from top to bottom or from left to right.
Arrowheads are used to indicate the flow of information or sequence of events.
Crossing flow lines do not show that there is any logical connection between those lines.
When drawing a flowchart on more than one sheet of paper, the connectors joining different
pages must be referenced by the same number, say 1,2,3 etc.

ADVANTAGES OF USING FLOWCHARTS

The benefits of flowcharts are as follows:
Communication: Flowcharts are better way of communicating the logic of a system to all
concerned.
Effective analysis: With the help of flowchart, problem can be analyzed in more effective way.
Proper documentation: Program flowcharts serve as a good program documentation, which is
needed for various purposes.
Efficient Coding: The flowcharts act as a guide or blueprint during the systems analysis and
program development phase.
Proper Debugging: The flowchart helps in debugging process.
Efficient Program Maintenance: The maintenance of operating program becomes easy with
the help of flowchart. It helps the programmer to put efforts more efficiently on that part

LIMITATIONS OF USING FLOWCHARTS

Complex logic: Sometimes, the program logic is quite complicated. In that case, flowchart
becomes complex and clumsy.
Alterations and Modifications: If alterations are required the flowchart may require re-drawing
completely.
Reproduction: As the flowchart symbols cannot be typed, reproduction of flowchart becomes
a problem.
The essentials of what is done can easily be lost in the technical details of how it is done.

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EXAMPLE FOR FLOWCHART:

1. Draw a flowchart to find the sum of first 50 natural numbers.

Notice that the flowchart has different shapes which are connected by arrows.
Each shape is used for a different purpose.
The arrowhead gives the direction of flow.
START

SUM = 0

N=0

N=N+1

No

SUM = SUM + N

IS
N=50?
YES

PRINT SUM

END
END

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CONCEPT OF LOOP:
A Loop is a sequence of instructions that repeats a specified number of times until a particular
condition is met.
Let us understand the concept of a loop with the help of the example.
If you want to draw a flowchart to print your name 10 times.
A counter is set up which counts the number of times a process has been repeated.
Here Count is used as a counter.
This counter gets raised after each repetition.
The program will check the value of the counter each time, before going to the next repetition.
If the value of the counter is less than 11, then and only then will the process be repeated.
When the value of the counter becomes equal to 11, it will get out of the loop.

START

READ NAME

COUNT = 1

PRINT NAME

COUNT = COUNT + 1

Yes

IS
COUNT
<=10?

No
STOP
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