Problem-Solving Techniques for Computing: Master Efficient Solutions

Question 1

Which of the following best describes a top-down approach to problem-solving?

Accepted Answer

Breaking a problem into smaller, more manageable subproblems

Answer

Starting with a specific solution and refining it

Answer

Applying a series of predefined rules or steps

Answer

Guessing and checking until a solution is found

Question 2

Which technique involves repeatedly dividing a problem into smaller parts until a solution is found?

Accepted Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Top-down approach

Answer

Bottom-up approach

Answer

Recursion

Question 3

What is a key benefit of using a bottom-up approach to problem-solving?

Accepted Answer

It is usually easier to implement

Answer

It is generally more efficient

Answer

It allows for greater flexibility

Answer

It is less likely to contain errors

Question 4

What is the role of a base case in a recursive function?

Accepted Answer

To stop the recursion from continuing indefinitely

Answer

To provide the initial input to the function

Answer

To calculate the final result of the function

Answer

To check if the input data is valid

Question 5

Which of the following is a top-down problem-solving technique, where you start with the overall problem and break it down into smaller subproblems?

Accepted Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Recursion

Answer

Hill climbing

Answer

Simulated annealing

Question 6

What is the fundamental concept behind the divide-and-conquer technique, where a problem is repeatedly divided into smaller subproblems?

Accepted Answer

Decomposing the problem into more manageable chunks

Answer

Finding a solution to a subproblem and combining them to solve the original problem

Answer

Solving the problem through repetitive iterations

Answer

Randomly searching for a solution among many possible options

Question 7

In a recursive function, what is a base case?

Accepted Answer

The condition that stops the recursion and provides the final result

Answer

The largest possible value that the function can handle

Answer

The smallest possible value that the function can handle

Answer

The initial condition that starts the recursion

Question 8

What is the primary purpose of algorithm analysis?

Accepted Answer

Predicting how well an algorithm will perform in terms of time and space requirements

Answer

Determining whether an algorithm is correct or not

Answer

Generating test cases to verify the correctness of an algorithm

Answer

Improving the code of an algorithm to make it more efficient

Question 9

What is a major drawback associated with using dynamic programming, a technique that solves problems by storing solutions to subproblems?

Accepted Answer

High memory requirements due to storing subproblem solutions

Answer

Increased complexity of code

Answer

Limited applicability to certain types of problems

Answer

Slow execution time compared to other approaches

Question 10

To find the longest common subsequence between two strings using dynamic programming, which approach should be taken?

Accepted Answer

Create a table where each cell stores the length of the longest common subsequence of the prefixes of the two strings up to that point.

Answer

Apply a greedy algorithm to determine the longest common subsequence at each position.

Answer

Recursively compare characters of the two strings until a common subsequence is identified.

Answer

Employ a brute-force method to compare all possible subsequences of the two strings.

Question 11

Which of the following is a characteristic of the top-down approach?

Accepted Answer

Starts with the overall solution and gradually refines it

Answer

Decomposes the problem into smaller subproblems

Answer

Uses a recursive function to solve the problem

Answer

Focuses on solving the smallest subproblem first

Question 12

A function that repeatedly calls itself to solve a problem is called a:

Accepted Answer

Recursive function

Answer

Iterative function

Answer

Linear function

Answer

Non-linear function

Question 13

What is the initial step in the bottom-up problem-solving approach?

Accepted Answer

Identifying the smallest subproblem

Answer

Finding the overall solution

Answer

Decomposing the problem

Answer

Solving the largest subproblem

Question 14

A problem-solving technique that combines elements of both top-down and bottom-up approaches is called:

Accepted Answer

Hybrid approach

Answer

Iterative approach

Answer

Incremental approach

Answer

Progressive approach

Question 15

Which technique involves calling a function within itself to break down a problem into smaller instances?

Accepted Answer

Recursion

Answer

Iteration

Answer

Backtracking

Answer

Dynamic programming

Question 16

Which technique is appropriate for solving problems where an optimal solution is needed but the problem size is manageable?

Accepted Answer

Dynamic programming

Answer

Brute force

Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Greedy algorithm

Question 17

Which problem-solving approach constructs a solution by combining smaller, pre-computed solutions?

Accepted Answer

Dynamic programming

Answer

Recursive

Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Greedy algorithm

Question 18

Which of the following is a potential pitfall associated with using recursion?

Accepted Answer

Limited memory

Answer

Increased code readability

Answer

High efficiency for small data sets

Answer

Straightforward debugging

Question 19

Which problem-solving technique exhaustively explores all possible solutions to find the optimal one?

Accepted Answer

Brute force

Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Backtracking

Answer

Dynamic programming

Question 20

Which of the following is an effective way to improve the efficiency of brute force problem-solving?

Accepted Answer

Using data structures to optimize search

Answer

Limiting the number of iterations

Answer

Employing recursion to break down the problem

Answer

Implementing a divide-and-conquer strategy

Question 21

Calculate the time complexity of the following Python code snippet:
```python
for i in range(n):
    for j in range(m):
        # Do something
```

Accepted Answer

O(n^2)

Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(m)

Question 22

Which problem-solving technique breaks down a problem into smaller, more manageable chunks that can be solved independently?

Accepted Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Top-down approach

Answer

Bottom-up approach

Answer

Recursion

Question 23

What is the main benefit of using a bottom-up approach?

Accepted Answer

Facilitates the reuse of previously solved subproblems

Answer

Provides a clear understanding of the overall problem

Answer

Reduces the number of steps required to solve the problem

Answer

Simplifies the debugging process

Question 24

Which problem-solving technique involves solving a problem by repeatedly breaking it down into smaller instances of itself?

Accepted Answer

Recursion

Answer

Iteration

Answer

Dynamic programming

Answer

Greedy algorithms

Question 25

When is it appropriate to use a divide-and-conquer strategy?

Accepted Answer

When the problem can be easily split into independent subproblems

Answer

When the problem is too complex to solve all at once

Answer

When the subproblems are not reusable

Answer

When the problem requires a non-deterministic solution

Question 26

What is the purpose of recursion in problem-solving?

Accepted Answer

To solve a problem by repeatedly calling itself

Answer

To break down a problem into smaller parts

Answer

To simplify the code by avoiding loops

Answer

To improve the performance of an algorithm

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using recursion in problem-solving?

Accepted Answer

It ensures efficient solutions every time.

Answer

It enables elegant and compact solutions for specific types of problems.

Answer

It simplifies the logic of complex algorithms.

Answer

It helps prevent redundant calculations by reusing previously computed results.

Question 28

When is a bottom-up problem-solving approach suitable?

Accepted Answer

When a problem can be constructed from smaller, independent components

Answer

When knowledge of the overall structure is crucial for the solution

Answer

When the problem is too complex to be solved directly from the top-down

Answer

When finding the optimal solution among many possibilities is the goal

Question 29

Which problem-solving technique involves repeatedly dividing a problem into smaller and smaller subproblems until a solution is found?

Accepted Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Recursion

Answer

Top-down approach

Question 30

What's the purpose of a base case when using recursion?

Accepted Answer

To end the recursive process

Answer

To begin the recursive process

Answer

To calculate the final solution

Answer

To check for errors in the recursive process

Question 31

What is the consequence of a recursive function lacking a base case?

Accepted Answer

Indefinite execution

Answer

Error generation

Answer

Base case execution

Answer

Execution termination

Question 32

In recursion, a function:

Accepted Answer

Calls itself

Answer

Calls a different function

Answer

Is called from a different function

Answer

Does not call any other function

Question 33

Which problem-solving technique is most appropriate for solving a problem that can be divided into smaller, independent subproblems?

Accepted Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Top-down approach

Answer

Bottom-up approach

Answer

Recursion

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT a stage in the top-down problem-solving approach?

Accepted Answer

Algorithm analysis

Answer

Problem decomposition

Answer

Solution implementation

Answer

Subproblem combination

Question 35

In recursion, the base case is used to:

Accepted Answer

Stop the recursive process

Answer

Identify the subproblems

Answer

Combine the solutions to the subproblems

Answer

Implement the solution to the original problem

Question 36

The divide-and-conquer technique is based on the principle of:

Accepted Answer

Recursive decomposition

Answer

Mathematical induction

Answer

Iterative refinement

Answer

Dynamic programming

Question 37

Which problem-solving approach divides a complex problem into smaller, manageable subproblems?

Accepted Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Bottom-up

Answer

Recursion

Answer

Top-down

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using problem-solving techniques?

Accepted Answer

Increased code complexity

Answer

Reduced debugging time

Answer

Improved efficiency

Answer

Enhanced maintainability

Question 39

What is the primary difference between top-down and bottom-up problem-solving approaches?

Accepted Answer

Top-down decomposes the problem into smaller subproblems, while bottom-up builds the solution from smaller components.

Answer

Top-down is used for sequential problems, while bottom-up is used for parallel problems.

Question 40

What is a limitation of the bottom-up problem-solving approach?

Accepted Answer

It can become inefficient for problems with large input data.

Answer

It requires a well-defined problem statement.

Answer

It can be difficult to identify the smallest building blocks of the solution.

Question 41

Which problem-solving technique involves breaking down a complex problem into smaller, more manageable subproblems until it can be solved?

Accepted Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Recursion

Answer

Bottom-up approach

Answer

Top-down approach

Question 42

Which approach to problem-solving focuses on breaking a problem down into smaller parts and solving them one at a time, starting from the most general?

Accepted Answer

Top-down approach

Answer

Recursion

Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Bottom-up approach

Question 43

Which technique involves repeatedly breaking down a problem into smaller versions of itself until it can be solved easily, using the same logic at each level?

Accepted Answer

Recursion

Answer

Top-down approach

Answer

Bottom-up approach

Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Question 44

Which approach to problem-solving starts by identifying the simplest subproblems and solving them first, then gradually combining the solutions to solve the larger problem?

Accepted Answer

Bottom-up approach

Answer

Top-down approach

Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Recursion

Question 45

Which problem-solving technique is most appropriate for solving problems that can be decomposed into independent subproblems, each of which can be solved separately?

Accepted Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Bottom-up approach

Answer

Top-down approach

Answer

Recursion

Question 46

Which of the following is a potential disadvantage of using the top-down approach to problem-solving?

Accepted Answer

Increased complexity in handling subproblems

Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Improved clarity

Answer

Easier testing

Question 47

Which problem-solving technique is self-referential, meaning the solution to the problem depends on the solution to a smaller version of the same problem?

Accepted Answer

Recursion

Answer

Divide-and-conquer

Answer

Top-down approach

Answer

Bottom-up approach

Question 48

Which of the following is a common application of the divide-and-conquer technique in computing?

Accepted Answer

Sorting algorithms

Answer

Network routing

Answer

Database management

Answer

Recursion

Question 49

Which of the following is a potential challenge associated with using recursion for problem-solving?

Accepted Answer

Stack overflow if not implemented carefully

Answer

Memory leak

Answer

Infinite loop

Answer

Recursion