Algorithms and Problem-Solving: Master Problem-Solving Techniques

Question 1

When solving a problem using an algorithm, what should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Understand the problem

Answer

Create the algorithm

Answer

Check the algorithm

Answer

Fix any errors in the algorithm

Question 2

How does abstraction help when designing an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

It makes algorithms easier to understand by hiding details.

Answer

It makes algorithms run faster by improving the code.

Answer

It makes algorithms more accurate by preventing mistakes.

Question 3

Can you give me an example of a problem that can be solved using an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Finding the quickest way to get from one place to another

Answer

Choosing what to wear for the day

Question 4

What is a potential drawback of using a flowchart?

Accepted Answer

It can be difficult to read and understand.

Answer

It makes it easy to see the steps of an algorithm.

Answer

It helps to find errors in algorithms.

Answer

It is hard to make changes to a flowchart.

Question 5

You have a text file. Which algorithm can you use to find the word that appears the most in the file?

Accepted Answer

Count the occurrences of all the words in the file and choose the one with the highest count.

Answer

Open the file and read its contents.

Answer

Check if the file contains a specific word.

Answer

Print the contents of the file.

Question 6

Why is it essential to test and fix any errors in your algorithm before using it to solve a problem?

Accepted Answer

To ensure the algorithm works as intended.

Answer

To improve the algorithm's speed.

Answer

To simplify the algorithm's understanding.

Answer

To make the algorithm more complex.

Question 7

Why is it important to add comments and descriptions when creating an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

To make the algorithm easier to understand.

Answer

To make the algorithm run faster.

Answer

To make the algorithm look more professional.

Answer

It's not important to add comments and descriptions.

Question 8

What's the very first thing you need to do when solving a problem?

Accepted Answer

Figure out what the problem is

Answer

Make a plan to solve the problem

Answer

Try out your plan

Answer

Check if your plan worked

Question 9

Sarah wants to find the total of all the numbers from 1 to 10. What is the best way for her to do this?

Accepted Answer

Add each number one by one, starting with 1 and ending with 10

Answer

Use a calculator

Answer

Guess the answer

Answer

Write down all the numbers from 1 to 10 and calculate their total

Question 10

When a problem is bigger, how does the number of steps needed to solve it using an algorithm usually change?

Accepted Answer

The number of steps increases a lot, like a rocket going up.

Answer

The number of steps stays the same.

Answer

The number of steps increases slowly, like a car driving.

Answer

The number of steps decreases.

Question 11

How do you make an algorithm better?

Accepted Answer

You make it, test it, change it, test it again, and keep doing this until it works.

Answer

You make it and test it once.

Answer

You make lots of different ones and see which one is the best.

Question 12

We want to find the fastest way to order a list of numbers from smallest to biggest. How can we test which method is the quickest?

Accepted Answer

Try out the different methods on a large list of numbers and see which one takes the least time.

Answer

Imagine running the code for each method in our heads and count how many steps each one takes.

Answer

Use a special math formula to figure out how efficient the algorithm is.

Question 13

When you bake a cake, you need to follow a set of steps in a specific order. What is the name for these steps?

Accepted Answer

Algorithm

Answer

Recipe

Answer

Plan

Question 14

Which of these describes a sequential algorithm?

Accepted Answer

An algorithm that follows a specific order of instructions, one after the other.

Answer

An algorithm that follows a random order of instructions.

Answer

An algorithm that executes many instructions at once.

Question 15

Imagine you have a pile of books. You can only add or take away books from the top of the pile. Which of these best describes how this pile of books works?

Accepted Answer

A new book is always put on the top of the pile, and the book on the top is the first one to be taken away.

Answer

A new book is always put at the bottom of the pile, and the book on the top is the first one to be taken away.

Answer

Books can be added or taken away from anywhere in the pile.

Question 16

What is an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

A set of steps we follow to solve a problem

Answer

A computer program

Answer

A type of software

Answer

A website

Question 17

Which of these is NOT a good feature of an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

It should be complicated

Answer

It should be accurate

Answer

It should be easy to understand

Answer

It should be efficient

Question 18

What is a flowchart used for?

Accepted Answer

To show an algorithm as a picture

Answer

To create a computer program

Answer

To store information

Answer

To print documents

Question 19

What is the difference between an algorithm and a program?

Accepted Answer

An algorithm is a general method, while a program is a specific example.

Answer

A program is a type of algorithm

Answer

An algorithm is more complicated than a program

Answer

There is no difference between an algorithm and a program

Question 20

What is the last step in the problem-solving process?

Accepted Answer

Check if the solution works

Answer

Figure out the problem

Answer

Create the algorithm

Answer

Put the algorithm into action

Question 21

What is a pseudocode?

Accepted Answer

A way of writing down an algorithm using everyday words

Answer

A type of computer programming language

Answer

A drawing of an algorithm

Answer

A list of steps to follow when solving a problem

Question 22

What's a good way to make a big problem easier to solve?

Accepted Answer

Break it down into smaller steps

Answer

Guess the answer

Answer

Ask a grown-up for help

Answer

Ignore the problem

Question 23

What are the three main types of algorithms?

Accepted Answer

Sequential, branching, and repeating algorithms

Answer

Top-to-bottom, left-to-right, and back-and-forth algorithms

Answer

Fast, slow, and medium algorithms

Answer

Number, letter, and picture algorithms

Question 24

What's the first step in making an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Knowing what problem you want to solve

Answer

Writing down all the steps

Answer

Testing the algorithm

Answer

Using a computer to write the algorithm

Question 25

What's an example of a sequential algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Making a sandwich

Answer

Playing a game of noughts and crosses

Answer

Finding the area of a triangle

Answer

Singing a song

Question 26

What's an example of a branching algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Deciding whether to go to the park or the cinema

Answer

Drawing a circle

Answer

Multiplying two numbers

Answer

Counting to ten

Question 27

What's an example of a repeating algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Rolling a dice until you get a six

Answer

Finding the biggest number in a list

Answer

Drawing a square

Answer

Playing the piano

Question 28

What do we do first when solving a problem?

Accepted Answer

Find the problem

Answer

Create a solution

Answer

Check the solution

Answer

Make the solution

Question 29

What is meant by an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

A set of clear instructions

Answer

A sum in maths

Answer

A computer application

Answer

A true story

Question 30

Which of these is a good example of a simple algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Making toast

Answer

Building a house

Answer

Writing a book

Answer

Training to run a race

Question 31

Why do we check a solution?

Accepted Answer

To see if it works

Answer

To make it better

Answer

To make it easier

Answer

To make it look smarter

Question 32

Which of these is NOT a good way to solve problems?

Accepted Answer

Try the same thing again and again

Answer

Divide and conquer

Answer

Guess and check

Answer

Think of lots of ideas

Question 33

What should we do first when we find an error

Accepted Answer

Find the mistake

Answer

Try the algorithm

Answer

Fix the mistake

Answer

Run the algorithm again

Question 34

What is shown in a flowchart?

Accepted Answer

The steps in an algorithm

Answer

The text in an algorithm

Answer

The sums in an algorithm

Answer

The pictures in an algorithm

Question 35

What is the difference between an algorithm and a program?

Accepted Answer

An algorithm is a set of instructions, but a program is made for a particular device

Answer

A program is a set of instructions, but an algorithm is made for a particular device

Answer

An algorithm and a program are the same thing

Answer

An algorithm is a theory, but a program is a real thing

Question 36

A step that does NOT belong in problem-solving is:

Accepted Answer

Baking a treat

Answer

Finding the problem

Answer

Creating a plan

Answer

Testing the plan

Question 37

What do we call a set of instructions that we follow?

Accepted Answer

Algorithm

Answer

Diagram

Answer

Equation

Answer

Story

Question 38

Here's an example of an algorithm we use in our daily lives:

Accepted Answer

Putting on our shoes

Answer

Solving a math puzzle

Answer

Painting a picture

Answer

Playing a video game

Question 39

Why is it important to test our algorithms?

Accepted Answer

To make sure they work properly

Answer

To make them go faster

Answer

To find every possible answer

Answer

To show our teachers how smart we are

Question 40

Which of these is NOT a way to solve problems?

Accepted Answer

Asking our friends for help

Answer

Trying many different things

Answer

Using a flowchart

Answer

Thinking in creative ways

Question 41

When our algorithm isn't working right, what's the best way to fix it?

Accepted Answer

Going through it step by step

Answer

Guessing and checking

Answer

Asking our teachers for help

Answer

Starting over from the beginning

Question 42

Which of these can help us show our algorithms clearly?

Accepted Answer

Flowchart

Answer

Spreadsheet

Answer

Word cloud

Answer

Song

Question 43

What's the difference between 'input' and 'output'?

Accepted Answer

Input is what we put in, and output is what we get out

Answer

Output is what we put in, and input is what we get out

Answer

They mean the same thing

Answer

Input is a question, and output is an answer

Question 44

In an algorithm, what do we use a loop for?

Accepted Answer

To repeat steps until we're done

Answer

To add something to a list

Answer

To check if something is true

Answer

To stop the algorithm

Question 45

In our algorithms, what do we use variables for?

Accepted Answer

To keep information

Answer

To do math

Answer

To control the flow of the algorithm

Answer

To show the results

Question 46

What is the first step in solving a problem using an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Identify the problem

Answer

Write the code

Answer

Test the solution

Answer

Create a flowchart

Question 47

An algorithm is:

Accepted Answer

A step-by-step set of instructions

Answer

A random guess

Answer

A program

Answer

A difficult puzzle

Question 48

What is the purpose of debugging?

Accepted Answer

Fixing mistakes in an algorithm

Answer

Writing a new algorithm

Answer

Testing the solution

Answer

Choosing the best solution

Question 49

What is the purpose of a flowchart?

Accepted Answer

To visually show the steps of an algorithm

Answer

To write the code for an algorithm

Answer

To test the output of an algorithm

Answer

None of these

Question 50

When solving a problem, what should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Identify the problem

Answer

Find a solution

Answer

Test the solution

Answer

Implement the solution

Question 51

What is an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

A set of instructions that solve a problem step by step

Answer

A type of computer program

Answer

A device that performs calculations

Answer

A tool used for debugging software

Question 52

Which of these is NOT a good feature of an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Very expensive to use

Answer

Clear and easy to follow

Answer

Efficient and uses little time and space

Answer

Accurate and gives the correct answer

Question 53

What does 'sequence' mean when used in an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Following instructions in a specific order

Answer

Repeating a set of instructions multiple times

Answer

Allowing users to input information

Answer

Stopping the algorithm if a certain condition is met

Question 54

Which of these problems can be solved using a simple algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Finding the area of a circle

Answer

Predicting the weather

Answer

Designing a website

Answer

Writing a poem

Question 55

How are loops and branches different in an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Loops repeat instructions, while branches take different paths based on conditions

Answer

Branches repeat instructions, while loops take different paths based on conditions

Answer

Loops take different paths based on conditions, while branches repeat instructions

Answer

Loops and branches are the same thing

Question 56

What is the main reason we try to optimize algorithms?

Accepted Answer

To make them more efficient and faster

Answer

To reduce the number of steps in the algorithm

Answer

To improve the accuracy of the algorithm

Answer

To make the algorithm easier to understand

Question 57

How does the number of steps in an algorithm affect the time it takes a computer to run it?

Accepted Answer

The more steps in the algorithm, the slower it runs.

Answer

The more steps in the algorithm, the faster it runs.

Answer

The number of steps in the algorithm does not affect how long it takes to run.

Question 58

When solving a problem, what steps should we follow?

Accepted Answer

Understand the problem, plan the steps, do the steps, check the answer

Answer

Plan the steps, understand the problem, check the answer, do the steps

Answer

Do the steps, understand the problem, plan the steps, check the answer

Question 59

When solving a problem with an algorithm, which step do you start with?

Accepted Answer

Understanding the problem

Answer

Finding a solution

Answer

Putting the plan into action

Answer

Checking if it works

Question 60

What is an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

A list of steps to solve a problem

Answer

A kind of computer game

Answer

A way of keeping information safe

Answer

A way of talking to others

Question 61

What is a flowchart?

Accepted Answer

A picture that shows how an algorithm works

Answer

A kind of robot

Answer

A way of keeping information secret

Answer

A way of talking to your friends

Question 62

Which shape is used in a flowchart to show a choice?

Accepted Answer

A diamond

Answer

A circle

Answer

A square

Answer

A triangle

Question 63

What is a loop in an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Repeating the same steps until something happens

Answer

A way of hiding information

Answer

A method of communication

Answer

Nothing like this exists

Question 64

Why do algorithms that are faster finish quicker?

Accepted Answer

They have fewer steps

Answer

They have more steps

Answer

They have more loops