Algorithms - created from Mind Map

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Computational Thinking

Pseudocode

Flow Diagrams

Binary Search

Linear Search

Decomposition

Algorithmic Thinking

Abstraction

breaking a complex problem down into smaller problems and solving each one individually

a logical way of getting from the problem to the solution. If the steps you take to solve a problem follow an algorithm then they can be reused and adapted to solve similar problems in the future.

picking out the important bits of information from the problem, ignoring the specific details that don't matter

is not actual programming language but it should follow a similar structure and read like one (roughly)

clearly shows an algorithm's steps without worrying about the finer details (syntax) of any particular programming language

it is quick to write and can be easily converted into any programming language

different ways to write pseudocode they are all equally correct as long as the person reading it can follow it and understand what you mean

Start/Stop

Inputs/Outputs

Processes

Decision

Sub-Routine

Arrows

the beginning and the end of the algorithm are put in boxes with rounded corners

anything that's put into or taken out of the algorithm goes in a parallelogram box

general instructions, processes and calculation go in rectangular boxes

decision, often a 'yes' or 'no' question, are put in diamond boxes

sub-routines are like sub programs-they reference other flow diagrams

arrows connect boxes and show the direction you should follow. Some boxes might have multiple arrows coming in or going out of them

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find the middle item in the ordered list

if this is the item you're looking for, then stop the search - you've found it

if not, compare the item you're looking for to the middle item. If it comes before the middle item, get rid of the second half of the list. If it comes after the middle item, get rid of the first half of the list.

you'll be left with a list that is half the size of the original list. Repeat steps 1-3 on this smaller list to get an even smaller one. Keep going until you find the item you're looking for.

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look at the