System Design Diagrams

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Questions and Answers

What type of testing is used when individual parts of the code are tested?

Acceptance testing

Integration testing

System testing

Unit testing (correct)

Extreme data is used to test the program with typical data.

False

What is the purpose of abnormal data in testing?

To test the program with erroneous or wrong data types.

When testing a program, test data should include _______ data that the program is designed to handle.

typical Signup and view all the answers

What type of testing is used when all the code is combined to form a program?

Integration testing Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of boundary data in testing?

To test the program with data at the boundaries of the allowed range. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following data types with their descriptions:

Normal data = Typical data that the program is designed to handle Extreme data = Largest and smallest acceptable values Boundary data = Data at the boundaries of the allowed range Abnormal data = Erroneous or wrong data types Signup and view all the answers

Testing is a one-time process and does not need to be repeated.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of a flowchart?

To communicate how an algorithm works Signup and view all the answers

A structure diagram is used to show the steps of an algorithm in a diagrammatic form.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is an algorithm?

A set of steps required to complete a task in a specific order. Signup and view all the answers

Flowcharts are drawn using standard ______ symbols.

flowchart Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their descriptions:

Structure diagram = A hierarchical diagram showing how a system can be divided into sub-systems Flowchart = A diagrammatic representation of an algorithm Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of using flowcharts?

Changes to the algorithm mean sections of the flowchart have to be re-drawn Signup and view all the answers

What is a CHAR in the context of programming?

A single character Signup and view all the answers

In a WHILE loop, the condition is checked at the end of the loop.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the DECLARE statement in pseudocode?

To declare a variable or constant Signup and view all the answers

In pseudocode, comments start with ______________ and continue to the end of the line.

two forward slashes // Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a conditional statement in an algorithm?

To change the flow of the algorithm Signup and view all the answers

A Boolean value can have more than two values.

False Signup and view all the answers

Match the following programming concepts with their descriptions:

SEQUENCE = A sequence of linear tasks performed one after the other WHILE = A loop with a condition at the beginning IF-THEN-ELSE = A conditional statement changing the flow of the algorithm BOOLEAN = A variable or constant that can have multiple values Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Design Representations

Structure diagrams are used to show top-down design in a diagrammatic form and are hierarchical, showing how a computer system solution can be divided into sub-systems with each level giving a more detailed breakdown.
Each sub-system can be further divided into more detailed components.

Flowcharts

A flowchart is a diagrammatic representation of an algorithm, showing the steps required to complete a task and the order in which they are performed.
Flowcharts are an effective way to communicate how an algorithm works.
Flowcharts are drawn using standard flowchart symbols, with each shape representing a single statement, such as input, processing, or output.
Arrows are used to show the direction of flow between steps.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Flowcharts

Advantages: The sequence of steps can be easily seen, and paths through the algorithm can be easily identified.
Disadvantages: They can take a lot of time to produce, and changes to the algorithm require re-drawing sections of the flowchart.

Testing

Testing involves dividing the entire system into small sections, testing each part individually, and then combining them to form a program.
Types of testing include unit testing, integration testing, and testing with different types of data (normal, extreme, boundary, and abnormal).
Test data is used to ensure the program works as intended, and should include a range of valid and invalid inputs.

Types of Data

Normal data: typical data that the program is designed to handle.
Extreme data: the largest and smallest acceptable values.
Boundary data: data at the edges of the allowed range, including both valid and invalid inputs.
Abnormal data: data of the wrong type, such as non-numeric characters in a numeric field.

Pseudocode

Pseudocode is a design representation that uses natural language to describe the steps of an algorithm.
Pseudocode can be used interchangeably with structure diagrams and flowcharts.
Identifiers in pseudocode contain only letters and digits, start with an uppercase letter, and can be declared with a statement.
Variables can be declared with a statement, and constants can be declared with a constant statement.
The assignment operator is denoted by ← or =.

Control Structures

SEQUENCE: represents linear tasks performed one after the other.
WHILE: a loop with a condition at its beginning.
REPEAT-UNTIL: a loop with a condition at the bottom.
FOR: another way of looping.
IF-THEN-ELSE: a conditional statement that changes the flow of the algorithm.
CASE: a generalization of IF-THEN-ELSE.
Boolean: has two values, True and False, also known as 1 and 0.

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Description

Learn about structure diagrams and flowcharts, used to represent system design and algorithmic processes. Understand how to break down complex systems into sub-systems and create visual representations of algorithms.