Introduction to Programming in C++
Algorithm,Pseudo-code and Flowchart
An Algorithm is Simply a Solution to a Problem or A step by step Procedure to solve a problem is called Algorithm.
There are two commonly used tools to help to document program logic (the algorithm). These are
Pseudo-code and Flowcharts.
Pseudo-code is a General way of Describing an Algorithm or Pseudo code is one of the methods that could be used to represent an algorithm.
Pseudo-code does not use the Syntax of a Specific Programming Language, therefore cannot be executed on a computer. But it closely resembles the Structure of a Programming language and contains roughly the same level of detail.
Flowchart is a Diagrammatic representation of an Algorithm. Flowchart are very helpful in writing program and explaining program to others
Examples of Algorithm,Pseudo-code and Flowchart:
Now we are going to see an Example of a Algorithm,Flowchart and Pseudo-code of Program that will Computes the Sum, Average and Product of three numbers:
Algorithm:
Step1: Read three numbers form User as a Input
Step2: Compute the sum of that three numbers
Step3: Compute the Average of that three numbers
Step4: Compute the Product of that three numbers
Step5: Output the Sum,Average and Product
Flowchart Pseudo-code
1) Read X, Y, Z
2) Compute Sum (S) as X + Y + Z
3) Compute Average (A) as S / 3
4) Compute Product (P) as X x Y x Z
5) Write (Display) the Sum, Average and Product
What is the difference between Algorithm and Pseudo-code?
An algorithm is a well defined sequence of steps that provides a solution for a given problem, while a Pseudo-code is one of the methods that can be used to represent an algorithm. While algorithms can be written in natural language, pseudocode is written in a format that is closely related to high level programming language structures.
But Pseudo-code does not use specific programming language syntax and therefore could be understood by programmers who are familiar with different programming languages. Additionally, transforming an algorithm presented in pseudo-code to programming code could be much easier than converting an algorithm written in natural language.
Posted by Irfan Doggar
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