ALGORITHM & FLOWCHART
Algorithm and flowchart are the powerful tools for learning programming. An algorithm is a step-by-step analysis of the process, while a flowchart explains the steps of a program in a graphical way. Algorithm and flowcharts helps to clarify all the steps for solving the problem. For beginners, it is always recommended to first write algorithm and draw flowchart for solving a problem and then only write the program.
Beginners find it difficult to write algorithm and draw flowchart. The algorithm can vary from person to person to solve a particular problem. The manual will be useful for the students to learn algorithm and flowchart. It includes basics of algorithm and flowchart along with number of examples. Software ClickCharts by NCH (unlicensed version) has been used to draw all the flowcharts in the manual.
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ALGORITHM:
The word “algorithm” relates to the name of the mathematician Al-khowarizmi, which means a procedure or a technique. Software Engineer commonly uses an algorithm for planning and solving the problems. An algorithm is a sequence of steps to solve a particular problem or algorithm is an ordered set of unambiguous steps that produces a result and terminates in a finite time
Algorithm has the following characteristics
• Input: An algorithm may or may not require input
• Output: Each algorithm is expected to produce at least one result
• Definiteness: Each instruction must be clear and unambiguous.
• Finiteness: If the instructions of an algorithm are executed, the algorithm should terminate after finite number of steps
The algorithm and flowchart include following three types of control structures.
1. Sequence: In the sequence structure, statements are placed one after the other and the execution takes place starting from up to down.
2. Branching (Selection): In branch control, there is a condition and according to a condition, a decision of either TRUE or FALSE is achieved. In the case of TRUE, one of the two branches is explored; but in the case of FALSE condition, the other alternative is taken. Generally, the ‘IF-THEN’ is used to represent branch control.
3. Loop (Repetition): The Loop or Repetition allows a statement(s) to be executed repeatedly based on certain loop condition e.g. WHILE, FOR loops.
Advantages of algorithm
• It is a step-wise representation of a solution to a given problem, which makes it easy to understand.
• An algorithm uses a definite procedure.
• It is not dependent on any programming language, so it is easy to understand for anyone even without programming knowledge.
• Every step in an algorithm has its own logical sequence so it is easy to debug.
HOW TO WRITE ALGORITHMS
Step 1 Define your algorithms input: Many algorithms take in data to be processed, e.g. to calculate the area of rectangle input may be the rectangle height and rectangle width.
Step 2 Define the variables: Algorithm's variables allow you to use it for more than one place. We can define two variables for rectangle height and rectangle width as HEIGHT and WIDTH (or H & W). We should use meaningful variable name e.g. instead of using H & W use HEIGHT and WIDTH as variable name.
Step 3 Outline the algorithm's operations: Use input variable for computation purpose,
e.g. to find area of rectangle multiply the HEIGHT and WIDTH variable and store the value in new variable (say) AREA. An algorithm's operations can take the form of multiple steps and even branch, depending on the value of the input variables.
Step 4 Output the results of your algorithm's operations: In case of area of rectangle output will be the value stored in variable AREA. if the input variables described a rectangle with a HEIGHT of 2 and a WIDTH of 3, the algorithm would output the value of 6.
FLOWCHART:
The first design of flowchart goes back to 1945 which was designed by John Von Neumann. Unlike an algorithm, Flowchart uses different symbols to design a solution to a problem. It is another commonly used programming tool. By looking at a Flowchartone can understand the operations and sequence of operations performed in a system. Flowchart is often considered as a blueprint of a design used for solving a specific problem.
Advantages of flowchart:
• Flowchart is an excellent way of communicating the logic of a program.
• Easy and efficient to analyze problem using flowchart.
• During program development cycle, the flowchart plays the role of a blueprint, which makes program development process easier.
• After successful development of a program, it needs continuous timely maintenance during the course of its operation. The flowchart makes program or system maintenance easier.
• It is easy to convert the flowchart into any programming language code.
Flowchart is diagrammatic /Graphical representation of sequence of steps to solve a problem. To draw a flowchart following standard symbols are use
Symbol Name Symbol function
Oval
Used to represent start and end of flowchart
Parallelogram
Used for input and output operation
Rectangle
Processing: Used for arithmetic operations and data-manipulations
Diamond
Decision making. Used to represent the operation in which there are two/three alternatives, true and false etc
Arrows
Flow line Used to indicate the flow of logic by connecting symbols
Circle
Page Connector
Off Page Connector
Predefined Process
/Function Used to represent a group of statements performing one processing task.
Preprocessor
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Comments
The language used to write algorithm is simple and similar to day-to-day life language. The variable names are used to store the values. The value store in variable can change in the solution steps. In addition some special symbols are used as below
Assignment Symbol ( or =) is used to assign value to the variable.
e.g. to assign value 5 to the variable HEIGHT, statement is HEIGHT 5
or HEIGHT = 5
The symbol ‘=’ is used in most of the programming language as an assignment symbol, the same has been used in all the algorithms and flowcharts in the manual.
The statement C = A + B means that add the value stored in variable A and variable B then assign/store the value in variable C.
The statement R = R + 1 means that add I to the value stored in variable R and then assign/store the new value in variable R, in other words increase the value of variable R by 1
Mathematical Operators:
Operator Meaning Example
+ Addition A + B
- Subtraction A – B
Multiplication A B
/ Division A / B
^ Power A^3 for A3
% Reminder A % B
Relational Operators
Operator Meaning Example
< Less than A < B
<= Less than or equal to A <= B
= or == Equal to A = B
# or != Not equal to A # B or A !=B
> Greater than A > B
>= Greater tha or equal to A >= B
Logical Operators
Operator Example Meaning
AND A < B AND B < C Result is True if both A<B and
B<C are true else false
OR A< B OR B < C Result is True if either A<B or
B<C are true else false
NOT NOT (A >B) Result is True if A>B is false
else true
Selection control Statements
Selection Control Example Meaning
IF ( Condition ) Then
… ENDIF IF ( X > 10 ) THEN Y=Y+5
ENDIF If condition X>10 is True execute the statement between THEN and ENDIF
IF ( Condition ) Then
… ELSE
…..
ENDIF IF ( X > 10 ) THEN Y=Y+5
ELSE Y=Y+8 Z=Z+3
ENDIF If condition X>10 is True execute the statement between THEN and ELSE otherwise execute the statements between ELSE
and ENDIF
Loop control Statements
Selection Control Example Meaning
WHILE (Condition) DO
..
.. ENDDO WHILE ( X < 10) DO
print x x=x+1
ENDDO Execute the loop as long as the condition is TRUE
DO
….
…
UNTILL (Condition) DO
print x x=x+1
UNTILL ( X >10) Execute the loop as long as the condition is false
GO TO statement also called unconditional transfer of control statement is used to transfer control of execution to another step/statement. . e.g. the statement GOTO n will transfer control to step/statement n.
Note: We can use keyword INPUT or READ or GET to accept input(s) /value(s) and keywords PRINT or WRITE or DISPLAY to output the result(s).
Algorithm & Flowchart to find the sum of two numbers
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input first numbers say A Step-3 Input second number say B Step-4 SUM = A + B
Step-5 Display SUM Step-6 Stop
OR
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input two numbers say A & B Step-3 SUM = A + B
Step-4 Display SUM
Step-5 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to convert temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit
C : temperature in Celsius F : temperature Fahrenheit
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input temperature in Celsius say C Step-3 F = (9.0/5.0 x C) + 32
Step-4 Display Temperature in Fahrenheit F Step-5 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to convert temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius
C : temperature in Celsius F : temperature Fahrenheit
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input temperature in Fahrenheit say F Step-3 C = 5.0/9.0 (F - 32 )
Step-4 Display Temperature in Celsius C
Step-5 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find Area and Perimeter of Square
L : Side Length of Square AREA : Area of Square
PERIMETER : Perimeter of Square
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Side Length of Square say L Step-3 Area = L x L
Step-4 PERIMETER = 4 x L
Step-5 Display AREA, PERIMETER Step-6 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find Area and Perimeter of Rectangle
L : Length of Rectangle B : Breadth of Rectangle
AREA : Area of Rectangle PERIMETER : Perimeter of Rectangle
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Side Length & Breadth say L, B Step-3 Area = L x B
Step-4 PERIMETER = 2 x ( L + B)
Step-5 Display AREA, PERIMETER Step-6 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find Area and Perimeter of Circle
R : Radius of Circle AREA : Area of Circle
PERIMETER : Perimeter of Circle
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Radius of Circle say R Step-3 Area = 22.0/7.0 x R x R
Step-4 PERIMETER = 2 x 22.0/7.0 x R
Step-5 Display AREA, PERIMETER Step-6 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find Area & Perimeter of Triangle
(when three sides are given)
A : First Side of Triangle
B : Second Side of Triangle C : Third Side of Triangle AREA : Area of Triangle
PERIMETER : Perimeter of Triangle
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Sides of Triangle A,B,C Step-3 S= (A + B + C)/ 2.0
Step-4 AREA = SQRT(S x (S-A) x (S-B) x(S-C)) Step-5 PERIMETER = S1 + S2 + S3
Step-6 Display AREA, PERIMETER Step-7 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find Simple Interest
P : Principle Amount N : Time in Years
R : % Annual Rate of Interest SI : Simple Interest
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input value of P, N, R Step-3 SI = (P x N x R)/100.0
Step-4 Display SI F Step-6 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find Compound Interest
P : Principle Amount N : Time in Years
R : % Annual Rate of Interest CI : Compound Interest
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input value of P, N, R C Step-3 CI = P(1+R/100)N - P
Step-4 Display CI
Step-6 Stop
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Algorithm & Flowchart to Swap Two Numbers using Temporary Variable
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Two Numbers Say NUM1,NUM2 Step-3 Display Before Swap Values NUM1, NUM2 Step-4 TEMP = NUM1
Step-5 NUM1 = NUM2 Step-6 NUM2 = NUM1
Step-7 Display After Swap Values NUM1,NUM Step-8 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to Swap Two Numbers without using temporary variable
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Two Numbers Say A,B Step-3 Display Before Swap Values A, B Step-4 A = A + B
Step-5 B = A - B Step-6 A = A - B
Step-7 Display After Swap Values A, B
Step-8 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find the smallest of two numbers
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input two numbers say NUM1,NUM2
Step-3 IF NUM1 < NUM2 THEN
print smallest is NUM1 ELSE
print smallest is NUM2 ENDIF
Step-4 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find the largest of two numbers
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input two numbers say NUM1,NUM2
Step-3 IF NUM1 > NUM2 THEN
print largest is NUM1 ELSE
print largest is NUM2 ENDIF
Step-4 Stop
Start
Input Value of NUM1
Input Value of NUM2
Print Yes if No Print Largest is NUM1 > NUM2 Largest is
NUM1 NUM2
Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find the largest of three numbers
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Read three numbers say num1,num2, num3 Step-3 if num1>num2 then go to step-5
Step-4 IF num2>num3 THEN
print num2 is largest ELSE
print num3 is largest ENDIF
GO TO Step-6
Step-5 IF num1>num3 THEN
print num1 is largest ELSE
print num3 is largest ENDIF
Step-6 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find the largest of three numbers (an another way)
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Read three numbers say A,B,C Step-3 BIG = A
Step-4 IF B > BIG THEN
BIG = B ENDIF
Step-5 IF C >BIG THEN
BIG = C ENDIF
Step-6 Write BIG Step-7 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find Even number between 1 to 50
Algorithm Step-1 Start Step-2 I = 1
Step-3 IF (I >50) THEN
GO TO Step-7 ENDIF
Step-4 IF ( (I % 2) =0) THEN
Display I ENDIF
Step-5 I = I + 1
Step-6 GO TO Step--3 Step-7 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find Odd numbers between 1 to n where n is a positive Integer
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Value of N Step-3 I = 1
Step-4 IF (I >N) THEN
GO TO Step-8 ENDIF
Step-5 IF ( (I % 2)=1) THEN
Display I ENDIF
Step-6 I = I + 1
Step-7 GO TO Step-4 Step-8 Stop
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Algorithm & Flowchart to find sum of series 1+2+3+…..+N
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Value of N
Step-3 I = 1, SUM=0 Step-4 IF (I >N) THEN
GO TO Step-8 ENDIF
Step-5 SUM = SUM + I Step-6 I = I + 1
Step-7 Go to step-4
Step-8 Display value of SUM Step-9 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find sum of series 1+3+5+…..+N, Where N is positive odd Integer
Algorithm Algorithm Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Value of N
Step-3 I = 1, SUM=0 Step-4 IF (I >N) THEN
GO TO step 8 ENDIF
Step-5 SUM = SUM + I Step-6 I = I + 2
Step-7 Go to step-4
Step-8 Display value of SUM Step-9 Stop
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Algorithm & Flowchart to find sum of series 1 – X + X2 –X3 ….XN
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Value of N, X
Step-3 I = 1, SUM=1, TERM=1 Step-4 IF (I >N) THEN
GO TO Step-9 ENDIF
Step-5 TERM = - TERM * X Step-6 SUM = SUM + TERM Step-7 I = I + 1
Step-8 Go to step-4
Step-9 Display value of SUM Step-10 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to print multiplication Table of a number
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Value of NUM Step-3 I = 1
Step-4 IF (I >10) THEN
GO TO Step 9 ENDIF
Step-5 PROD = NUM * I
Step-6 WRITE I “x” NUM “=” PROD Step-7 I = I + 1
Step-8 Go to step-4 Step-9 Stop
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Algorithm & Flowchart to generate first n Fibonacci terms 0,1,1,2,3,5…n (n>2)
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Value of N
Step-3 A=0, B=1, COUNT=2 Step-4 WRITE A, B
Step-5 IF (COUNT >N) then go to step 12 Step-6 NEXT= A + B
Step-7 WRITE NEXT
Step-8 A=B Step-9 B=NEXT
Step-10 COUNT=COUNT + 1
Step-11 Go to step-4 Step-12 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find sum and average of given series of numbers
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 COUNT=0 Step-3 SUM=0
Step-4 Input NUM (next number in series) Step-5 SUM= SUM +NUM
Step-6 COUNT=COUNT+1
Step-7 IF More Number in Series then GOTO Step-4
ENDIF
Step-8 AVERGAE=SUM / COUNT Step-9 WRITE SUM, AVERAGE
Step-10 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find Roots of Quadratic Equations AX2+BX+C=0
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input A,B,C
Step-3 DISC= B2 – 4 A * C Step-4 IF (DISC < 0) THEN
Write Roots are Imaginary Stop
ENDIF
Step-5 IF (DISC==0) THEN
Write Roots are Real and Equal X1 = - B/(2*A)
Write Roots are X1,X1 Stop
ENDIF
Step-6 IF (DISC >0)
Write Roots are Real and Unequal X1= (- B + SQRT(DISC)) / (2*A) X2= (- B + SQRT(DISC)) / (2*A)
Write Roots are X1,X2 Stop
ENDIF
Algorithm & Flowchart to find if a number is prime or not
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input NUM Step-3 R=SQRT(NUM)
Step-4 I=2
Step-5 IF ( I > R) THEN
Write NUM is Prime Number Stop
ENDIF
Step 6 IF ( NUM % I ==0) THEN
Write NUM is Not Prime Stop
ENDIF Step-7 I = I + 1
Step-8 Go to Step-5
Algorithm & Flowchart to find GCD and LCM of two numbers
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Read two number A, B Step-3 IF (A > B) THEN
N =A D=B
ELSE
N=B D=A
ENDIF
Step-4 r=N/D
Step-5 WHILE (r != 0) DO
N=D
D=r
r =N%D DONE
Step-6 gcd=d
Step-7 lcm = (a*b)/gcd Step-8 Display gcd, lcm
Step-9 Stop
…
Algorithm & Flowchart to find Factorial of number n ( n!=1x2x3x…n)
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Read number N
Step-3 FACT=1 CTRL=1 Step-4 WHILE (CTRL <= N)
DO
FACT=FACT*I CTRL=CTRL+1
DONE
Step-5 Display FACT Step-6 Stop
Algorithm & Flowchart to find all the divisor of a number
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Read number N Step-3 D=1
Step-4 WHILE (D< N) DO
IF ( N % D ==0) THEN PRINT D
ENDIF D=D+1
DONE
Step-5 Stop
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