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Computational thinking (a) Programmers use trace tables with algorithms - Edexcel - GCSE Computer Science - Question 4 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 4
Computational thinking (a) Programmers use trace tables with algorithms. Explain the purpose of a trace table. (b) Algorithms use arrays and records to hold dat... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Computational thinking (a) Programmers use trace tables with algorithms - Edexcel - GCSE Computer Science - Question 4 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain the purpose of a trace table.
Answer
A trace table is used during the debugging process to track the values of variables at each step of the algorithm's execution. Its purpose is to help programmers visualize the flow of control and data through the algorithm, enabling them to identify logical errors or incorrect values.
Step 2
Describe a record.
Answer
A record is a data structure that stores a collection of related fields, where each field can represent different data types. This allows for the aggregation of various types of information about a single entity, such as a student record containing fields for name, ID, and grades.
Step 3
Step 4
Describe how a linear search algorithm operates on an unsorted array.
Answer
A linear search algorithm sequentially checks each element in an unsorted array until the desired element is found or the end of the array is reached. It starts from the first element and compares each element with the target value until a match is found.
Step 5
Step 6
Discuss the use of decomposition and abstraction in developing this game.
Answer
Decomposition involves breaking down the game into smaller, manageable parts, such as creating functions for movement, scoring, and displaying graphics. Abstraction simplifies complex systems by focusing on the essential details while hiding unnecessary complexity, allowing students to work collaboratively on different components without getting overwhelmed by the entire project at once. This facilitates teamwork and improves code organization.