Introduction to Problem Solving & Computing Past Paper (Mico University College) Dec 2023 PDF

## THE MICO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ### QUESTION PAPER FORM **Course Code and Title:** Introduction to Problem Solving and Computing **Date:** December 2023 **Duration:** 2 hours **No. of Students:** 60 **Semester I** **Examinations Year:** 2023 **December** **Semester II** **May** **Summer Session**...

## THE MICO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ### QUESTION PAPER FORM **Course Code and Title:** Introduction to Problem Solving and Computing **Date:** December 2023 **Duration:** 2 hours **No. of Students:** 60 **Semester I** **Examinations Year:** 2023 **December** **Semester II** **May** **Summer Session** **Supplemental** **August** **Material Required:** **Answer Booklet:** * Normal * Special * Not required **Calculator:** (where applicable) * Programmable * Non-programmable **Multiple Choice Answer Sheets:** * Numerical * Alphabetical * No of Items: * Auxiliary Other material: Please specify **Students are permitted to bring the following items to their desks: Pens, Pencils, Eraser, Ruler, Geometry Set, Non-programmable Calculator, ID Card, Examination Permit** **Instructions to Students:** This paper has **pages** and **4 questions**. | Section | Marks | Questions | Answer | |---|---|---|---| | A | 30 | 3 short answer questions | Answer 2 questions | | B | 15 | 1 short answer question | Answer ALL questions | **Students are reminded that the examiners will take into account the use of Standard Jamaican English in determining the marks for each response.** ## SECTION A **Instructions: Answer ANY TWO (2) questions.** **1. Assess the following array named PAYMENTS used to store payments received at a store.** PAYMENTS 60.36 80.00 43.20 76.00 Index 1 2 3 4 * a. State the location of the highest payment received. [1 mark] * b. State the data type most appropriate for the data stored. [1 mark] * c. Write the fragmented Pascal code to declare the PAYMENTS array. [4 marks] * d. Write the fragment of Pascal code to output the total payments received. [6 marks] * e. What is the value of a loop variable in relation to arrays in Pascal array? Declare a loop variable to serve as an example. [3 marks] **2. Algorithms are a good foundation in the scheme of problem solving.** * a. Identify FOUR features that are synonymous with a good algorithm. [4 marks] * b. Using examples differentiate between continuous and discrete data. [3 marks] * c. A program was created to accept student name, their grade, and output the associated letter grade. Using an example, provide the data types most suitable for each. [6 marks] * d. A program is being created to find the sum of two numbers. Declare two variables that can possibly be used in this program. [2 marks] **3. Consider the following fragmented pseudocode algorithm.** ``` READ WEIGHT, YEAR IF (WEIGHT <180.0) AND (YEAR=1990) THEN PRINT "PERFECT" ELSE PRINT "NOT FIT ENDIF ``` * a. Create the matching flowchart to support fragment of pseudocode provided above. [7 marks] * b. A woman invests ¥200 on January 1 for each of three years in a fixed income bond that pays interest of 8 per cent per annum, the interest being added to her account at the end of each year. The following algorithm gives the total value of her investment after the three-year period. ``` A=0 FOR I = 1 TO 3 A = A+200 A = 1.08 * A END FOR PRINT A ``` * i. Trace the algorithm. [6 marks] * ii. Explain how the algorithm could be amended to give her the value of her investment at the end of each year, after interest for that year has been added. [2 marks] ## SECTION B **INSTRUCTIONS: Answer ALL questions.** 1. For us to clearly develop solutions to our problems there is a need for an outline that indicates the problem in its entirety. In problem solving, this outline is known as a **Problem Statement**. * a. Using a problem of your own, create a problem statement that contains all the requisite features of a problem statement. [5 marks] * b. With your problem statement clearly presented, identify and discuss three problem-solving techniques that can be applied to deliver a solution to the issue identified. [9 marks] * c. In an attempt to drive your solution forward an algorithm was created. State one way in which the algorithm can be represented. [1 mark] **END OF TEST**