12 Integrated Programming Projects Free Online FlashCards

What should you identify before writing an integrated program?

Start by identifying the program’s inputs, outputs, rules, data, operations, and constraints before writing code.

What is decomposition in programming?

Decomposition divides a large problem into smaller responsibilities that are easier to describe, test, and reuse.

How should a data structure match a programming need?

Use a list for an ordered collection, a dictionary for key-value information, a set for unique values, and an object for related state and behavior.

What is an algorithm?

An algorithm is a finite, ordered procedure that specifies what happens, in what order, and under which conditions.

How does an `if`/`elif` chain choose a branch?

A conditional selects among alternatives; once a true branch is found in an `if`/`elif` chain, later branches are skipped.

When should you use `for` versus `while`?

A `for` loop is appropriate for processing each item in a collection, while a `while` loop repeats until its condition becomes false.

What does abstraction accomplish?

Abstraction exposes important operations while hiding implementation details. A clear contract specifies inputs, outputs, and error conditions.

What is the difference between a class and an object?

A class defines the structure and behavior of a kind of object; an object is an instance created from that class.

When is inheritance appropriate?

Use inheritance for a genuine “is-a” relationship when a specialized class follows the base class’s general interface.

How should a program handle invalid input?

Validate expected input at the system boundary, and use exceptions when an operation cannot produce a valid result.

What do boundary tests examine?

Boundary tests check values at and around important limits, such as scores of 90, 89.99, 60, and 59.99.

What is the time complexity of `best_student()`?

The `best_student()` method runs in linear time, written as $O(n)$, because it examines each student once.