Programming Fundamentals

Flow Chart & Pseudo codes

Pseudocode
Pseudo code is part English, part program
logic
Its purpose is to describe in precise
algorithmic details.
It requires defining steps in sufficient detail
so that they can be converted into
computer program

Pseudo code
Adding two number
Take input
Enter 1st number
Enter 2nd number

Add entered numbers and store result

Pseudocode
Convert degree Fahrenheit to Celsius
Take input
( Fahrenheit)
Apply formula
100/180*(Fah-32)
Store results
Show results

What is a Flowchart?
A flowchart is a
diagram that depicts
the flow of a
program.
The figure shown
here is a flowchart
for the paycalculating.

START
Display
message How
many hours did
you work?

Read Hours

Display
message How
much do you
get paid per
hour?
Read Pay Rate

Multiply
Hours by Pay
Rate. Store
result in
Gross Pay.
Display Gross
Pay

END

Basic Flowchart
Symbols

START
Display
message How
many hours did
you work?

Notice there are three

Read Hours

Display
message How
much do you
get paid per
hour?

rounded rectangles
parallelograms
a rectangle

Each symbol
represents a different
type of operation.

Rounded
Rectangle

Read Pay Rate

Rectangle

Rounded
Rectangle

Multiply
Hours by Pay
Rate. Store
result in
Gross Pay.
Display Gross
Pay

END

Parallelogra
m

Basic Flowchart
Symbols

START
Display
message How
many hours did
you work?

Terminals

Read Hours

represented by
rounded rectangles
indicate a starting or
ending point

Display
message How
much do you
get paid per
hour?
Read Pay Rate

Multiply
Hours by Pay
Rate. Store
result in
Gross Pay.

START

Display Gross
Pay

END

Terminal
END

Terminal

Basic Flowchart
Symbols
Input/Output
Operations

Display
message How
many hours did
you work?

Read Hours

represented by
parallelograms
indicate an input or
output operation
Display
message How
many hours
did you work?

START

Read Hours

Display
message How
much do you
get paid per
hour?
Read Pay Rate

Multiply
Hours by Pay
Rate. Store
result in
Gross Pay.
Display Gross
Pay

END

Input/Output
Operation

Basic Flowchart
Symbols

START
Display
message How
many hours did
you work?

Processes
represented by
rectangles
indicates a process such
as a mathematical
computation or variable
assignment
Multiply Hours
by Pay Rate.
Store result in
Gross Pay.

Read Hours

Display
message How
much do you
get paid per
hour?
Read Pay Rate

Process

Multiply
Hours by Pay
Rate. Store
result in
Gross Pay.
Display Gross
Pay

END

Stepping Through
the Flowchart
How many
hours did
you work?

START
Display
message How
many hours did
you work?

Read Hours

Display
message How
much do you
get paid per
hour?
Read Pay Rate

Variable Contents:
Hours: ?
Pay Rate: ?
Gross Pay: ?

Multiply
Hours by Pay
Rate. Store
result in
Gross Pay.
Display Gross
Pay

END

Output
Operation

Stepping Through
the Flowchart
How many
hours did
you work?
40

START
Display
message How
many hours did
you work?

Input
Operation

Read Hours

(User types
40)

Display
message How
much do you
get paid per
hour?
Read Pay Rate

Variable Contents:
Hours: 40
Pay Rate: ?
Gross Pay: ?

Multiply
Hours by Pay
Rate. Store
result in
Gross Pay.
Display Gross
Pay

END

Stepping Through
the Flowchart
How much
do you get
paid per
hour?

START
Display
message How
many hours did
you work?

Read Hours

Output
Operation

Display
message How
much do you
get paid per
hour?
Read Pay Rate

Variable Contents:
Hours: 40
Pay Rate: ?
Gross Pay: ?

Multiply
Hours by Pay
Rate. Store
result in
Gross Pay.
Display Gross
Pay

END

Stepping Through
the Flowchart

Display
message How
many hours did
you work?

Read Hours

How much
do you get
paid per
hour? 20

Display
message How
much do you
get paid per
hour?

Input
Operation
(User types
20)

Variable Contents:
Hours: 40
Pay Rate: 20
Gross Pay: ?

START

Read Pay Rate

Multiply
Hours by Pay
Rate. Store
result in
Gross Pay.
Display Gross
Pay

END

Stepping Through
the Flowchart

START
Display
message How
many hours did
you work?

Read Hours

How much
do you get
paid per
hour?

Display
message How
much do you
get paid per
hour?
Read Pay Rate

Variable Contents:
Hours: 40
Pay Rate: 20
Gross Pay: 800

Process: The
product of 40
times 20 is
stored in
Gross Pay

Multiply
Hours by Pay
Rate. Store
result in
Gross Pay.
Display Gross
Pay

END

Stepping Through
the Flowchart

START
Display
message How
many hours did
you work?

Read Hours

Your gross
pay is 800

Display
message How
much do you
get paid per
hour?
Read Pay Rate

Variable Contents:
Hours: 40
Pay Rate: 20
Gross Pay: 800

Multiply
Hours by Pay
Rate. Store
result in
Gross Pay.

Output
Operation

Display Gross
Pay

END

Four Flowchart Structures

Sequence
Decision
Repetition
Case

Sequence Structure
a series of actions are performed in sequence
The pay-calculating example was a sequence
flowchart.

Decision Structure
One of two possible actions is taken, depending
on a condition.

Decision Structure
A new symbol, the diamond, indicates a yes/no question.
If the answer to the question is yes, the flow follows one
path. If the answer is no, the flow follows another path

NO

YES

Decision Structure
In the flowchart segment below, the question is x < y?
is asked. If the answer is no, then process A is
performed. If the answer is yes, then process B is
performed.
NO

YES
x<
y?

Process
A

Process
B

Decision Structure
The flowchart segment below shows how a decision
structure is expressed in C++ as an if/else statement.

Flowchart

NO

C++ Code

YES
x<
y?

Calculate a
as x plus y.

if (x < y)
a = x * 2;
else

Calculate a
as x times
2.

a = x + y;

Decision Structure
The flowchart segment below shows a decision structure
with only one action to perform. It is expressed as an if
statement in C++ code.
Flowchart

NO

C++ Code

YES
x<
y?

if (x < y)
a = x * 2;

Calculate a
as x times
2.

Repetition Structure
A repetition structure represents part of the program that
repeats. This type of structure is commonly known as a
loop.

Repetition Structure
Notice the use of the diamond symbol. A loop tests a
condition, and if the condition exists, it performs an
action. Then it tests the condition again. If the condition
still exists, the action is repeated. This continues until the
condition no longer exists.

Repetition Structure
In the flowchart segment, the question is x < y? is
asked. If the answer is yes, then Process A is performed.
The question is x < y? is asked again. Process A is
repeated as long as x is less than y. When x is no longer
less than y, the repetition stops and the structure is
exited.

x < y?

YES
Process
A

Repetition Structure
The flowchart segment below shows a repetition
structure expressed in C++ as a while loop.

Flowchart

C++ Code

while (x < y)

x < y?

x++;

YES
Add 1 to
x

Case Structure
One of several possible actions is taken,
depending on the contents of a variable.

Case Structure
The structure below indicates actions to
perform depending on the value in
years_employed.
CASE
years_employed

1
bonus =
100

2
bonus =
200

3
bonus =
400

Other
bonus =
800

Case Structure

If years_employed =
2, bonus is set to 200
If years_employed =
1, bonus is set to 100

1
bonus =
100

If years_employed =
3, bonus is set to 400
If years_employed is
any other value,
bonus is set to 800

CASE
years_employed

2
bonus =
200

3
bonus =
400

Other
bonus =
800

Connectors
Sometimes a flowchart will not fit on one
page.
A connector (represented by a small
circle) allows you to connect two flowchart
segments.

Connectors
The A connector indicates
that the second flowchart
segment begins where the first
segment ends.

START

END
A

Modules
A program module (such as a function in
C++) is represented by a special symbol.

Modules
The position of the module symbol
indicates the point the module is
executed.
A separate flowchart can be
constructed for the module.

START

Read Input.

Call
calc_pay
function.

Display
results.

END

Combining Structures
Structures are commonly combined to create more
complex algorithms.
The flowchart segment below combines a decision
structure with a sequence structure.

YES
x < y?

Display x

Add 1 to
x

Combining Structures
This flowchart segment
shows two decision
structures combined.

NO

YES
x > min?

Display x is
outside the limits.

NO

YES
x<
max?

Display x is
outside the limits.

Display x is
within limits.