The February 2022 Computer Application Honours (Problem Solving
and Programming in C) exam (BCA-103):
UNIT-I
1. Define a flowchart. Explain the different basic symbols used in flowchart
design.
Answer:
A flowchart is a graphical representation of the flow of an algorithm or process using
symbols. It helps visualize the steps in problem solving.
Common symbols:
Oval: Start/End
Rectangle: Process/Instruction
Parallelogram: Input/Output
Diamond: Decision (condition)
2. Explain with example the top-down and bottom-up approaches of problem
solving.
Answer:
Top-down approach: Starts from the main problem and breaks it down into
subproblems step-by-step until reaching simple tasks.
Bottom-up approach: Starts with designing small modules or subproblems and
integrates them to form the complete solution.
Example: In top-down, a program to calculate area first breaks down into area calculation
functions; in bottom-up, individual functions are implemented first, then combined.
UNIT-II
3. (a) Describe two different ways to use the increment and decrement
operators.
(b) Mention the different rules for naming a variable in C.
(c) Write a program to find the sum of the digits of a number.
Answer:
(a) Increment/decrement operators:
Prefix (e.g., ++i): increments value before use.
Postfix (e.g., i++): increments value after use.
(b) Variable naming rules:
Must start with alphabet or underscore (_).
Can contain alphabets, digits, and underscore.
No spaces or special characters allowed.
Cannot be a keyword or reserved word.
(c) Program to sum digits:
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
int num, sum = 0, digit;
printf("Enter a number: ");
scanf("%d", &num);
while (num > 0) {
digit = num % 10;
sum += digit;
num /= 10;
}
printf("Sum of digits: %d\n", sum);
return 0;
}
4. (a) What is a loop? Why is it needed in a program? Mention the differences
between a while loop and a do-while loop.
(b) Compare the differences among the following functions: getchar(), getch(),
getche(), gets() and scanf().
Answer:
(a) Loop: Repeats a block of code multiple times. Needed to perform repeated tasks.
Differences:
while checks condition before the loop body; may execute zero times.
do-while checks condition after loop body; executes at least once.
(b) Function differences:
getchar(): Reads a single character, buffered input.
getch(): Reads a single character without echoing to screen.
getche(): Reads a single character and echoes it.
gets(): Reads a string until newline; unsafe due to no length check.
scanf(): Reads formatted input; can read multiple data types.
UNIT-III
5. (a) What is recursion? Write a program to find the factorial of a number
using recursion.
(b) What is a function call? What is the difference between call by value and
call by reference?
Answer:
(a) Recursion: A function calling itself to solve smaller instances of a problem.
Factorial program:
#include <stdio.h>
int factorial(int n) {
if (n == 0)
return 1;
else
return n * factorial(n - 1);
}
int main() {
int num;
printf("Enter a number: ");
scanf("%d", &num);
printf("Factorial of %d is %d\n", num, factorial(num));
return 0;
}
(b) Function call: The process of invoking a function.
Call by value: Passes a copy of the value; changes inside function do not affect
caller.
Call by reference: Passes address; changes affect the original variable.
6. (a) What is a macro? Explain with example macro with arguments.
(b) What are command-line arguments in C? What do argv and argc indicate in
command-line arguments? Explain.
Answer:
(a) Macro: Preprocessor directive for code substitution.
Example:
#define SQUARE(x) ((x) * (x))
(b) Command-line arguments are arguments passed to main.
argc: Argument count (number of arguments including program name).
argv: Array of strings storing the arguments.
UNIT-IV
7. (a) Explain the different storage classes in C.
(b) What is an array? How are individual array elements identified? Write a C
function to sum the elements of a one-dimensional array.
Answer:
(a) Storage classes:
auto: Default for local variables.
register: Suggests storing in CPU register.
static: Variable retains value between function calls.
extern: Declares variables defined elsewhere.
(b) Array: Collection of elements of same type; elements identified by index starting 0.
Sum function:
int sumArray(int arr[], int n) {
int sum = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
sum += arr[i];
return sum;
}
8. (a) Explain the concept of passing one function to another. What is meant by
guest function? What is host function?
(b) Briefly explain the relationship between arrays and pointers.
Answer:
(a) Passing function to another: Function pointers are passed as arguments.
Host function: Function which receives function pointer.
Guest function: Function passed to another function.
(b) Relationship: An array name behaves like a pointer to its first element; pointer
arithmetic can access array elements.
UNIT-V
9. (a) Distinguish between a structure and a union.
(b) Define enumeration. Write a program to demonstrate the use of
enumeration.
Answer:
(a) Structure: Stores all members separately.
Union: Stores all members at same memory location; only one member valid at a time.
(b) Enumeration defines named integer constants. Example:
#include <stdio.h>
enum color {RED, GREEN, BLUE};
int main() {
enum color c = GREEN;
printf("Value: %d\n", c);
return 0;
}
10. (a) What are the various modes for opening a file? Mention the utility of
each of these modes.
(b) Briefly explain the error handling mechanisms during I/O operations on a
file.
Answer:
(a) File modes:
"r": Read
"w": Write (creates new file or truncates)
"a": Append
"r+", "w+", "a+": Read and write modes
(b) Error handling: Functions like ferror() check stream errors; feof() checks EOF; use return
values to verify success of I/O functions.
