Chapter 1 - An Introduction to Programming

An Introduction to Programming with C++
Eighth Edition
Chapter 1:
An Introduction to Programming

© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in
whole or in part.
Chapter Objectives
• Define the terminology used in programming
• Explain the tasks performed by a programmer
• Understand the employment opportunities for
programmers and software engineers
• Explain the history of programming languages
• Explain the sequence, selection, and repetition
structures
• Write simple algorithms using the sequence, selection,
and repetition structures
An Introduction to Programming with C++, Eighth Edition 2

whole or in part.
Programming a Computer
It is important to understand the relationship between the
terms programs, programmers, and programming
languages.
Programs - The directions that humans give to computers
Programmers - The people who create these directions
Programming Languages - Special languages used by
programmers to communicate directions to a computer

whole or in part.
The Programmer’s Job
• Programmers help solve computer problems
• Employee or freelance
• Typical steps involved
– Meet with user to determine problem
– Convert the problem into a program
– Test the program
– Provide user manual

whole or in part.
What Traits Should a Software Developer
Possess?
• Analytical skills
• Communication skills
• Creativity
• Customer-service skills
• Detail oriented
• Problem-solving skills
• Teamwork
• Technical skills

whole or in part.
Employment Opportunities
• Computer software engineer: designs an appropriate
solution to a user’s problem
• Computer programmer: codes a computer solution
• Coding is the process of translating a computer solution
into a language a computer can understand
• Some positions call for both engineering and
programming

whole or in part.
A Brief History of Programming Languages
There are many different types of programming
languages. This chapter will discuss:
•Machine languages
•Assembly languages
•High-level procedure-oriented languages
•High-level object-oriented languages

whole or in part.
Machine Languages
• The first programmers had to write the program
instructions using only combinations of 0s and 1s
– Example: 0000 0101 1100 0000
• Instructions written in 0s and 1s are called machine
language or machine code
• Each type of machine has its own language
• Machine languages are the only way to communicate
directly with the computer
• Programming in machine language: tedious and error-
prone; requires highly trained programmers

whole or in part.
Assembly Languages
• Assembly languages made writing code simpler than
using only 0s and 1s
• Mnemonics – symbols used to represent the actual
machine language instructions
Example: 00000101 vs. BALR
• Assembly programs require an assembler to convert
instructions into machine code
• Easier to write programs in assembly language
– But still tedious and requires highly trained programmers

whole or in part.
High-Level Languages
• High-level languages allow programmers to use English-
like instructions
Example: taxAmount = total * taxRate
• Each high-level language instruction is equivalent to
more than one machine language instruction
• Compilers translate high-level instructions into 0s and
1s (machine language)
• Interpreters translate the program line by line as the
program is running

whole or in part.
High-Level Languages (cont.)
• When writing a procedure-oriented program, the
programmer concentrates on the major tasks that the
program needs to perform
– Examples: COBOL, BASIC, C
• An object-oriented program requires the programmer
to focus on the objects that the program can use to
accomplish its goal
– Examples: C++, Visual Basic, Java, C#
• Object-oriented programs allow for an object to be
created that can be reused in more than one program

whole or in part.
Control Structures
All computer programs are written using one or more of
three basic control structures: sequence, repetition, and
selection. Another term used for control structures are
logic structures, because they control the logic flow of the
program.
While in every program that is written the sequence
structure will be used, in most all programs all three
control structures will be used.

whole or in part.
The Sequence Structure
• The sequence structure directs the computer to
process the program instructions, one after another, in
the order in which they are listed in the program
• An algorithm is a finite number of step-by-step
instructions that accomplish a task
• Example: steps to pump gas at a self-service pump

whole or in part.
The Sequence Structure (cont.)
Figure 1-1 An example of the sequence structure

whole or in part.
The Selection Structure
• The selection structure directs the computer to make a
decision (evaluate a condition), and then take an
appropriate action based upon that decision
• The selection structure allows the programmer to
evaluate data, therefore properly controlling the logic
flow of the program
• Another name for the selection structure is the decision
structure
• Example: stopping or going at a signal light

whole or in part.
The Selection Structure (cont.)
Figure 1-2 An example of the selection structure

The Selection Structure (cont.)
Figure 1-3 Another example of the selection structure

whole or in part.
The Repetition Structure
• The repetition structure, commonly called iteration or
looping, directs the computer to repeat one or more
program instructions until some condition is met
• This condition may be checked at the beginning or end
of the set of instructions to be processed dependent
upon the language being used
• The repetition structure allows the programmer to
repeatedly process a set of instructions, while only
typing them in once

whole or in part.
The Repetition Structure (cont.)
Original algorithm and modified algorithm
showing the repetition structure

whole or in part.
Summary
• Programs are step-by-step instructions that tell a
computer how to perform a task
• Programmers use programming languages to
communicate with the computer
• First programming languages were machine language
using 0s and 1s
• Assembly languages followed, using mnemonics
• High-level languages can be used to created procedure-
oriented or object-oriented programs

whole or in part.
Summary (cont.)
• An algorithm is a finite number of step-by-step
instructions that accomplish a task
• Algorithms utilize three basic control structures:
sequence, selection, and repetition
• The sequence structure directs the computer to process
the program instructions, one after another, in the
order in which they are listed
• The selection structure directs the computer to make a
decision (evaluate a condition), and then take an
appropriate action based upon that decision

whole or in part.
Summary (cont.)
• The repetition structure, commonly called iteration or
looping, directs the computer to repeat one or more
program instructions until some condition is met
• The sequence structure is used in all programs
• Most programs also contain both the selection and
repetition structures

whole or in part.
Lab 1-1: Stop and Analyze
Study the algorithm below and answer the questions.
• Which control structures are used in the algorithm?
• What will the algorithm print when the price of the TV is $2,100?
• How would you modify the algorithm so that it can be used for only the
first 10 customers buying a TV?
• How would you modify the algorithm so that it allows the user to also
enter the discount rate and then uses that rate to calculate the
discount?

whole or in part.
Lab 1-2: Plan and Create
The 10 salespeople at Harkins Company are paid a 10%
bonus when they sell more than $10,000 in product;
otherwise, they receive a 5% bonus. Create an
appropriate algorithm using only the instructions shown
below.

whole or in part.
Lab 1-3: Modify
Modify the algorithm shown below so that it gives a 25%
discount to customers who are also employees of the
store; all other customers receive a 15% discount.

whole or in part.
Lab 1-4: What’s Missing?
Harold wants to sit down on the park bench, but his cat Ginger may or may
not be already seated there. Put the instructions shown below in the
proper order, and then determine the one or more missing instructions.

Chapter 1 - An Introduction to Programming

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked (19)

Similar to Chapter 1 - An Introduction to Programming (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

Chapter 1 - An Introduction to Programming