Explain the flowchart that shows a simple algorithm involving addition and multiplication.
Understand the Problem
The image contains a flowchart illustrating a simple algorithm for calculating a sum, initialized to zero, and which appears to contain a multiplication step that leads to a final output of the sum. The flowchart discusses entering values and performing operations, but the multiplication seems incorrect as it uses zero.
Answer
The corrected final output is $SUM = 20$.
Answer for screen readers
The final output, if corrected, should be:
$$ SUM = 20 $$
Steps to Solve
- Initialize SUM to Zero
We start by initializing the variable SUM to zero:
$$ SUM = 0 $$
- Input Values
Next, we enter the values. In this case, we are entering $5$ and $4$ for the intended multiplication operation. This step should ideally involve setting values for later operations, but the flowchart shows a multiplication with a zero.
- Identify the Multiplication Step
The flowchart incorrectly shows the operation as:
$$ SUM = 0 * 0 $$
This is incorrect because we're multiplying by zero, leading to a final result of zero. Instead, it should be:
$$ SUM = 5 * 4 $$
- Print the SUM
Finally, we print the SUM value. If corrected, it should display:
$$ PRINT\ SUM $$
which would yield $20$ if done correctly.
The final output, if corrected, should be:
$$ SUM = 20 $$
More Information
In the flowchart, the logic seems faulty at the multiplication stage. Multiplying by zero will always result in zero. Properly utilizing the input values would provide the actual desired output.
Tips
- Using zero in a multiplication step without applying the intended input values.
- Not keeping track of initialized variables before performing operations.
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