Algorithms

Y10 Introduction
WHAT IS AN ALGORITHM?

It is a set of instructions of how to carry out
a process. An algorithm lists the steps
that must be followed to complete the
process and to reach the solution
Examples of algorithms:

A knitting pattern
A set of instructions telling you how to put
a kit together (eg. an IKEA kitchen unit)
A recipe in a cook book

An algorithm can be represented
diagrammatically in the form of a flow
chart.
A flow chart
A flowchart consists of a sequence of
instructions linked together by arrows to
show the order in which the instructions
must be carried out.

It provides detailed steps.

Each instruction is put into a box. The boxes are
different shapes depending upon what the
instruction is.

Process shapes
START / END
Human process
i.e. you doing
something!
Input or output
Query / question
Printed output Save to file
Yes
No
Remember not to create the flow
chart in WORD

Instead do this in POWER POINT
and change

File Page Layout to PORTRAIT

Autoshapes has the shapes you
need to use
More shapes
You can also use the following shapes:

Predefined process

Used for a sequence of instructions which is defined somewhere
else (eg. in a subroutine)


Connector
to link with a different page or another part of the program



(Note: all these shapes can be found under AutoShapes
if you click the Drawing icon on your tool bar)

Predefined
process
TASK 1
MAKING A CUP OF TEA!
The following list
represents the steps
needed in order to make
a cup of tea. Put the list in
the right order and
produce an algorithm in
POWERPOINT showing
the processes and
decisions you need to
make.
1. Take tea bag out of cup
2. Boil the water
3. Put tea bag in cup
4. Add milk?
5. Pour boiling water in
cup
6. Fill kettle
7. Stir
8. Ready
9. Add sugar ?
10. Fetch cup

Answers follow
The answers
1. Fill kettle
2. Boil the water
3. Fetch cup
4. Put tea bag in cup
5. Pour boiling water in cup
6. Take tea bag out of cup
7. Add sugar ?
8. Stir
9. Add milk?
10. Stir
11. Ready
START
Fill kettle
Boil the water
Fetch cup
Put tea bag in cup
Pour boiling water in cup
Take tea bag out of cup
Add sugar ?
Stir in sugar
Add milk?
Pour in milk
Ready
N
N
Now add the shapes
Skills in Powerpoint to create your
algorithm.
To tidy up the whole column
select all (drag around all shapes)
Go to DRAW
Select ALIGN or DISTRIBUTE
To change
this to .
START
Fill kettle
Boil the water
Fetch cup
Put tea bag in cup
Pour boiling water in cup
Take tea bag out of cup
Add sugar ?
Stir in sugar
Add milk?
Pour in milk Ready
N
N
To this
but take care as it can
mess up the side sections!
TASK 2

A PREDEFINED PROCESS
In order to carry out no. 8 in the list above,
you will need to instruct the user how to fill
a kettle.
(a) Produce a set of instructions called
Filling a kettle and then
(b) update your algorithm for task 1 to
include this predefined process.
TASK 3
MAKING A CUP OF COFFEE!
How would your algorithm change for
making a cup of coffee instead of tea?
Amend your algorithm in Task 2 (b) in
order to produce a new diagram.

Now try to create one on a PC
This should always be done in
POWERPOINT..


NEVER, EVER, EVER in WORD!