COS102: Problem Solving

Lecture 01: Introduction

Venue : CIT Theatre
Presented by: M .I. Mukhtar
 Course Description
• This course introduces students to a broad range of
approaches for solving problems.

• It is designed to provide students with the necessary

knowledge and skills to become proficient problem
solvers and effective programmers.

• Throughout the course, students will learn how to

apply problems-solving techniques to address
problems and develop programs for them.

• To aid learning of the course, concepts will be

illustrated using Python Programming Language.

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 Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, Students should be able to:
• explain problem solving processes;
• Demonstrate problem solving skills;
• Describe the concept of algorithms development
and properties of algorithms;
• Discuss the solution techniques of solving
problem;
• Solve computer problems using algorithms,
flowcharts, pseudocodes etc.;
• Solve problems using programming language
using Phyton etc.

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 Course Outline
• Introduction to the core concept of computing.
• Problems, types of Problem and Problem Solving
• Methods of solving Computing Problems.
• Solution Techniques of solving problems
• General problem solving process
• Solution Formulation and Design
• Implementation, evaluation and refinement.
• Programming in Python.

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 Course Lecturers
• The course will be taken in 2 parts

• Maryam Ibrahim Mukhtar --- Second Part

• Dr. Saratu Yusuf Ilu ----- First Part

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 Lectures
• 3 Credit Hour Course

• Tuesday – 2hr

• Wednesday – 1hrs (Will be used during practical in second part)

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 Course Assessment
• CA – 30%

• Exams – 70%
7 questions to answer 5

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 Reference Text
• Problem solving and programming concept by
Maureen Sprankle and Jim Hubbard ….
• For Second Part of the course

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 Lecture Outline
• Introduction
• Core Concepts of Computing
• Problem Decomposition
• Variables and Constants
• Data Types
• Operators
• Arrays
• Functions
• Expression
• Algorithms and Control Structures

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 Introduction
• Problem solving is one of the central activities
performed by professional and learners in
computing.

• A problem solver in computing cannot effectively use

the computer to solve problems:
• Without understanding problems, and problems decompositions;
• Without understanding how the computer uses and defines data;
• Without understanding how the computer uses operators and
functions;
• Without understanding how to construct computer expressions and
equations;
• Without understanding how to create algorithms (instructions) and
use its different Control Structures;
• Without understanding how arrays work;

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 Core Concepts of Computing for Problem
Solving
• There are some common core concepts of computing
for Problem Solving.
• Understanding them is crucial for developing efficient
and effective solutions to computational problems.

Problem Variables and

Data Types Operators
Decomposition Constants

Algorithms &
Arrays Functions Expression Control
Structures

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 Problem and Problem Decomposition
• There are different categorization of problems such
as routine and non-routine, solvable and unsolvable
problems.

• There are also algorithm and heuristic methods to

solve problems.

• Decomposing a problem involve using techniques

such as abstraction, divide and conquer etc to:
• break down complex problems into smaller, manageable
parts.
• Identify sub-problems and solving them individually.

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 Constant & Variables
• The computer uses variables and constants to solve
problems.
• A constant is a value that never changes during the
processing of all the instructions in a solution.

• Variables are placeholders for data that can vary or

change during the program’s execution. They are used to
store and manipulate values that might be different at
different points in the program.

• Examples:
• Area = ∏r2 ---------r is a variable, ∏ is a constant
• A = ½ (a + b) * c ------ a, b, c are variables, ½ is a
constant
• Wages= Hours worked * 1000---Hours worked are
variables, 1000 is constant
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 Rules for Naming Variables and Constants
Name a variable
Names should start with Do not use spaces in
according to what it
letter not number. name.
represents.

Be consistent when
Special characters like using upper- and lower-
@, %, $, # or any other case characters. In some
Avoid using language
symbol that is used as a languages HOURS is a
specific reserved words.
mathematical operator) different variable name
is not allowed than Hours or hours
(case sensitivity).

Examples of incorrect variables names pay-rate, 10% bonus

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 Data Type
• To process solutions, the computer must have data.

• The data the computer uses are of many different

types.

• Computers must be told the data type of each

variable or constant.

• The most common data types:

Numeric Alphanumeric Logical

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 Numeric Data Type
• Numeric data include all types of numbers.
• Numeric is the only data type that can be used in
numeric calculations.

• Numeric data are divided into integers and real

numbers.
• Integers are whole numbers example 25 or -376.
• They can be positive or negative.

• Real numbers, sometimes called floating point

numbers, are whole numbers plus decimal parts
example 16.5 or -780.00
• They can be positive or negative.

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 Alphanumeric Data Type
• The alphanumeric data set, consists of all single digit
numbers, letters, and special characters.
• They are placed within quotation marks.
• Example a, A, Z, 3, #, &

• When more than one character are join together, the

computer considers this item as string
• String data type: derived from a string of characters.

• Character or string data can be joined together with the

+ operator in an operation called concatenation.
Example:
• “2” + “2” = “22” (not 4).
• “Ado” + “Isa” = “AdoIsa”
• “Ado” + “ Isa” = “Ado Isa”

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 Logical Data Type
• Logical data consist of two values namely True
and False.
• These are used in making yes-or-no decisions.

• logical data set True and False are not string data
and are considered reserved words.
• Reserved word: a word that cannot be used as
variable names.

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 Operators
• The computer has to be told how to process data.
• This task is accomplished through the use of operators.

• The types of operators used in calculations and problem

solving include:

Mathematical Operators

Relational Operators

Logical Operators

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 Mathematical Operators

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 Relational & Logical Operators
Operator Computer Symbol Example Results
Relational
Equals to == 2==2 True
Not Equals to != 2!=2 False
Less than < 5< 3 False
Greater than > 8> 1 True
Less than or equal <= 6 < =6 True
to
Greater than or >= 9 >= 5 True
equal to
Logical
And and True and True True
Or or True or False True

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 Hierarchy of Operation

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 Arrays
• Array is a collection of values stored in a single
variable.

• In programming, arrays are useful for storing and

manipulation collection of data. Example
Fruits = [“Apple”, “Banana”, “Orange”]

• In this example, fruit is an array that stores three

values: Apple, Banana, orange

Fruits[0] = Apple

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 Function
• Functions are small sets of instructions that
perform specific tasks and return values.

• Functions are used for basic tasks that are used

repeatedly in the problem solving process.
• Each language has a set of functions within it.

• The format of a function is :

FunctionName (data)
• The data is listed as part of the function and are
called parameters.

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 Type of Functions

Conversion
Mathematical String functions:
functions: used
functions: used in used to Statistical
to convert data
mathematical manipulate string functions: used to
from one data type
calculations such variables. For calculate things
to another. For
things as square example, joining such as maximum
example,
root, absolute strings together, values and
converting a string
value, or a finding the length minimum values.
value to a numeric
random of strings.
value.

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 Function Example
Function Definition Example Result
Mathematical/ Statistical Functions
abs(n) Returns absolute value of abs(-4) 4
(N)
sqrt(n) Returns square root of (n) sqrt(4) 2

round(N,n1) Returns the rounded value Round(3.7245, 3.72

of N to the n1 place. 2)

max(n1,n2,..) Returns the maximum Max(3,2,10) 10

number in the list
Pow(N, n1) Returns the value of N Pow(4, 2) 16
raise to the power of n1
ceil(n) Return the largest integer Ceil (3.22) 4
greater than n

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 Function Example
Function Definition Example Result
String Functions
Length(s) Returns the number Length(‘’Maryam’’) 6
of character in a
string
Capitalize() Converts the first Capitalize(“maryaM”) Marya
character of a string m
to upper case and
lower case to all
others
Conversion Functions

float(n) Converts an integer (n) float(2) 2.0

to real number
int(n) Converts a real int(3.55) 3
number (n) to integer
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 Computer Expression
• Sometimes a programmer has to modify an
expression into a format supported by
computer. Examples:

Numeric Expression
Computer Expression

Relational expression X is less than Y + 5

Computer Expression X < (Y + 5)

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 Algorithms & Control Structures
• An algorithm is an effective step-by-step procedure
for solving a problem in a finite number of steps.

• Control structure of algorithm can be broadly

classified into 3

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 Test yourself
• Identify the variables and constants in the equations
below:
• x3 – x2 +2x +2 =0
• V = 4∏r3

• What would be the most appropriate data type to

use for the following:
• The number of people that attended SWE1301 lecture today
• Name of University
• “1”
• Price of a computer system
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 Test Yourself
Data Item Incorrect Variable Problem Corrected Name
Name
Space between words WagesPaid
Wages paid Wages Paid
Name of EN Does not define data EmployeeName
Employee item

Use of mathematical PayRate

Pay - Rate operator
Rate of pay
Start with number TenPercentBonus
10% bonus 10% _bonus or Bonus

Variable E.g in other places

Introduced as
Example Inconsistent Name Example

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 Exercises
• Convert the following expression into computer
form

• Iv v.

• vi

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 Exercises
i. String S = “practice”
• What is the result of Length(S)?
• What will be the result of Capitalize(S) ?

ii. float n = -2.436

• What is the result of abs(n)?
• What is the result of abs(N)?
• What is the result of round(n,1)?
• What is the result of ceil(n)?

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 Successful Degree
I want to be successful in Computing

Success begins in Problem Solving Course

+
hard work, dedication and willingness to
learn new things.

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 Lecture Summary
• Understanding the core concepts of computing for
problem solving is crucial for developing efficient
and effective solutions to computational problems.

• Some common core concepts of computing for

problem solving include
• Problem Decomposition
• Variables and Constants
• Data Types
• Operators
• Arrays
• Functions
• Expression
• Algorithms and Control Structures

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 Questions??

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