ALGORITHM and

FLOWCHARTS
ALGORITHMS AND FLOWCHARTS
 Computer programming can be divided into two
phases:
 Problem solving phase
 Make an ordered sequence of steps that solves a
problem
 these sequence of steps is called an algorithm

 Implementation phase
 implement using a programming language
 Steps in Problem Solving
 First produce a general algorithm (one can use
pseudocode)
 Refine your steps until you get to an easy
sequence. Perhaps use numbers or bullets. The
point is to simplify.
 Pseudocode is an artificial and informal
language that helps programmers develop
algorithms. Pseudocode may be an informal
english, combinations of computer languages
and spoken language. Whatever works for you.
 Pseudocode & Algorithm
Example 1:
Write an algorithm to determine a student’s
final grade and indicate whether it is
passing or failing. The final grade is
calculated as the average of four marks.
 Pseudocode & Algorithm
Pseudocode:
 Input a set of 4 marks
 Calculate their average by summing and dividing
by 4
 if average is below 60
Print “FAIL”
else
Print “PASS”
 Pseudocode & Algorithm
 Detailed Algorithm
 Step 1: Input M1,M2,M3,M4
Step 2: GRADE  (M1+M2+M3+M4)/4
Step 3: if (GRADE < 60) then
Print “FAIL”
else
Print “PASS”
endif
 The Flowchart
A Flowchart is another algorithm but graphical.
 shows logic solution
 emphasizes individual steps and their
interconnections
 A flowchart must have a start and stop
 A steps in a flowchart must connect. Can’t
leave a step “hanging” with no connection.
e.g. control flow from one action to the next
 Flowchart Symbols
General Used Symbols
Name Symbol Use in Flowchart

Oval Denotes the beginning or end of the program

Parallelogram Denotes an input operation

Rectangle Denotes a process to be carried out

e.g. addition, subtraction, division etc.

Diamond Denotes a decision (or branch) to be made.

The program should continue along one of
two routes. (e.g. IF/THEN/ELSE)

Hybrid Denotes an output operation

Flow line Denotes the direction of logic flow in the program

 Example
START
Step 1: Input M1,M2,M3,M4
Step 2: GRADE  (M1+M2+M3+M4)/4
Input
M1,M2,M3,M4
Step 3: if (GRADE < 60) then
Print “FAIL”
else
GRADE(M1+M2+M3+M4)/4 Print “PASS”
endif
N Y
IS
GRADE<60

PRINT PRINT
“PASS” “FAIL”

STOP
 Example 2
 Write an algorithm and draw a flowchart to
convert the length in feet to centimeter.
Pseudocode:
 Input the length in feet (Lft)
 Calculate the length in cm (Lcm) by
multiplying Lft with 30
 Print length in cm (Lcm)
 Example 2
Flowchart
Algorithm START

 Step 1: Input Lft

Input

 Step 2: Lcm  Lft x 30

Lft

 Step 3: Print Lcm Lcm  Lft x 30

Print
Lcm

STOP
 Example 3
Write an algorithm and draw a flowchart that
will read the two sides of a rectangle and
calculate its area.
Pseudocode
 Input the width (W) and Length (L) of a rectangle
 Calculate the area (A) by multiplying L with W
 Print A
Example 3
Algorithm START

 Step 1: Input W,L Input

W, L
 Step 2: AL x W
 Step 3: Print A ALxW

Print
A

STOP
Example 4
 Write an algorithm and draw a flowchart that
will calculate the roots of a quadratic equation
ax 2  bx  c  0
 Hint: d = sqrt ( b 2  4ac ), and the roots are:
x1 = (–b + d)/2a and x2 = (–b – d)/2a
Example 4
Pseudocode:
 Input the coefficients (a, b, c) of the
quadratic equation
 Calculate d
 Calculate x1
 Calculate x2
 Print x1 and x2
 Example 4
START

 Algorithm:
Input
 Step 1: Input a, b, c a, b, c
 Step 2: d  sqrt ( b  b  4  a)  c
 Step 3: x1  (–b + d) / (2 x a) d  sqrt(b x b – 4 x a x c)

 Step 4: x2  (–b – d) / (2 x a) x1 (–b + d) / (2 x a)

 Step 5: Print x1, x2
X2  (–b – d) / (2 x a)

Print
x1 ,x2

STOP
 DECISION STRUCTURES
 The expression A>B is a logical expression
 it describes a condition we want to test
 if A>B is true (if A is greater than B) we take
the action on left
 print the value of A
 if A>B is false (if A is not greater than B) we
take the action on right
 print the value of B
DECISION STRUCTURES

Y N
is
A>B

Print A Print B
IF–THEN–ELSE STRUCTURE
 The structure is as follows
If condition then
true alternative
else
false alternative
endif
IF–THEN–ELSE STRUCTURE
 The algorithm for the flowchart is as
follows:
If A>B then
Y N
print A is
A>B

else
print B Print A Print B

endif
Relational Operators

Relational Operators
Operator Description
> Greater than
< Less than
== Equal to
>= Greater than or equal to
<= Less than or equal to
=! Not equal to
Your flowchart
 Write an algorithm that reads two values, determines the
largest value and prints the largest value with an
identifying message.
ALGORITHM
Step 1: Input VALUE1, VALUE2
Step 2: if (VALUE1 > VALUE2) then
MAX  VALUE1
else
MAX  VALUE2
endif
Step 3: Print “The largest value is”, MAX
Example 5
START

Input
VALUE1,VALUE2

Y is N
VALUE1>VALUE2

MAX  VALUE1 MAX  VALUE2

Print
“The largest value is”, MAX

STOP
 nested if statements
 One of the alternatives within an
IF–THEN–ELSE statement
 may involve further IF–THEN–ELSE
statement
 Example 6
 Write an algorithm that reads three
numbers and prints the value of the largest
number.
 Example 6
Step 1: Input N1, N2, N3
Step 2: if (N1>N2) then
if (N1>N3) then
MAX  N1 [N1>N2, N1>N3]
else
MAX  N3 [N3>N1>N2]
endif
else
if (N2>N3) then
MAX  N2 [N2>N1, N2>N3]
else
MAX  N3 [N3>N2>N1]
endif
endif
Step 3: Print “The largest number is”, MAX
 Example 6
YOUR JOB
 Flowchart: Draw the flowchart of the
previous algorithm.
 Example 7
 Write and algorithm and draw a flowchart for a
computer program that would:

a) read an employee name (NAME), overtime

hours worked (OVERTIME), hours absent
(ABSENT) and
b) determine the bonus payment (PAYMENT).
 Example 7
Bonus Schedule
OVERTIME – (2/3)*ABSENT Bonus Paid

>40 hours $50

>30 but  40 hours $40
>20 but  30 hours $30
>10 but  20 hours $20
 10 hours $10
Step 1: Input NAME,OVERTIME,ABSENT
Step 2: if (OVERTIME–(2/3)*ABSENT > 40) then
PAYMENT  50
else if (OVERTIME–(2/3)*ABSENT > 30) then
PAYMENT  40
else if (OVERTIME–(2/3)*ABSENT > 20) then
PAYMENT  30
else if (OVERTIME–(2/3)*ABSENT > 10) then
PAYMENT 20
else
PAYMENT  10
endif
Step 3: Print “Bonus for”, NAME “is $”, PAYMENT
 Example 7

 Draw the flowchart of the previous

algorithm.