Sorting - Arranging the elements in a list
or collection in increasing or decreaing
order of a particular property.
Abstraction - Using symbols, variables etc. to
represent a 'real world' problem in a computer
program, and removing unnecessary elements
Decompostion - The breaking down of large
problems into smaller, easier to solve ones which
can be combined to make the full solution.
Algorithmic Thinking - Identifying the
steps involved in solving a problem.
Binary Search
Put the list in order
Take the middle value
Is it the value you want?
ELIF it is larger take the
list of values to the left.
ELIF it is smaller take the
list of values to the right.
Repeat until you get
the desired value.
Linear Search
Check the first value
If it is the wanted value then stop
ELIF, Check the next value
Repeat until all have
been checked.
Bubble Sort
Take the first and
second elements.
Compare Them.
If Element 1 > 2, Swap them.
ELSE, Do Nothing
Do this until you can go all the way through
without making any changes.
Merging Lists
Repeat until merged.
Split all elements
into individual lists
Compare the first
element in both lists.
Put the smallest
in a new list
Compare the next of 1
list with the second of
the second list
Put the smallest in a new list.
Merge Sort
Split a list into individual lists, of one element each
Merge the lists in pairs putting the smallest first
Merge until it is all in order
Insertion Sort
Element 1 is a 'sorted' list
The rest are 'unsorted' list
Compare the unsorted element
to each element in the sorted list
If it is smaller, put it in
front of that element
ELIF it is larger, compare
with next value
If there are no more
elements to compare with,
put it in the final position
Repeat until all
elements are
'sorted'
Flowcharts
They are used
to represent
algorithms
Shows the data that is
input and output
Shows the processes taking place
Shows the decisions
and repetitions
Lines/Arrows show
the flow of control
Set Shapes are used; Start/End is an oval, INPUT/OUTPUT is a
parallelogram, Processes are rectangles, and Decisions are diamonds
with Yes/No answers coming off on different branches