Study guide for the Unit One Exam in CSC 150
Watch out for “diapause” (a period of physiologically enforced dormancy between
periods of activity) while studying for this exam!
Computer science is the study of problem solving, and computers are tools for solving
problems. A computer solves problems by processing data into information.
A computer is H/W and S/W, and it can:
1) Input data
(Data: raw facts input to the computer)
2) Produce output information
(Information: processed data)
The goal of information processing is to convert input data into useful output
information.
3) Store “stuff”
(like S/W, data, information)
4) Perform arithmetic operations
(Such as adding, subtraction, multiplying, etc.)
5) Perform logical operations
(Comparisons such as greater than, less than, equal to, etc.)
Logical operations are much more important than arithmetic operations
The power of a computer is performing logical operations.
Together, arithmetic and logical operations are “processing”
The goal of information processing is to turn input data into useful output
information.
6) Follow instructions
(Instructions are found in the S/W algorithms. Chapter 1, I. C. S.)
An Algorithm (one “Grand Idea” of computer science) is a method of solving
problems, and can be further defined as special instructions that tell the H/W how
and when to process. (Note that the instructions are pre-created, users don’t give
instructions.)
This falls under the concept of automation (“Grand Idea”), because the computer
can simply follow the steps in the algorithms to run by itself.
It is possible to specify instructions (S/W algorithms) without specifying the data. This is
why the same algorithm can be used to solve different problems.
Sabrina L, CSC 150 unit 1study guide
