Interesting read...

They say money doesn't grow on trees, but did you know a salad can? Over the past 20 years farmers James and Kerry West have developed what they called Fruit Salad Trees - one potted plant that can grow a variety of fruits all at once! The miracle plants come in varieties like citrus, stone fruits and multi-apples, growing all the ingredients for a delicious fruit salad on one plant!

The Wests dreamed up the fruit salad tree back in the early 1990s, and slowly began experimenting with saplings. By gradually cutting, taping together and grafting different kinds of tree, they finally were able to get the fruit bearers to harmonize, forming one unified tree.

The Fruit Salad Trees can bear up to six different kinds of fruits, like peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots and peachcots, or even oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit. Raised in Australia, the plants can be shipped worldwide, with a tree to suit every climate.

Urban farmers can even partake in the magic of the Fruit Salad Tree, as the plants do well in fields, but also in indoor planters. Fruit Salad Trees are a great way to grow a variety of home grown fruits when you have little space. They do say variety is the spice of life!

In July of this year, even further advancements have been made in this area; a multicolored tree that produces 40 different kinds of fruits has also been grafted.  If you're interested in reading more on this, check out the following link:

http://inhabitat.com/amazing-multicolored-tree-produces-40-different-kinds-of-fruit/#ixzz3ErJB8LBF

Programming Notes

Are you able to explain the following:

1. Syntax
2. Control Structures (remember there are three of them)
3. Pseudocode
4. Robust
5. Internal documentation
6. Source Code
7. Object Code
8. Prompt
9. Literals
10. Conditional constructs (also three of them)
11. Variable
12. Constant
13. The attributes of an algorithm
14. The steps in the Problem Solving Phase
15. Verification and validation checks
16. Serial, Sequential, Index Sequential, Random Access

If not, you may want to spend some extra time studying for your upcoming test.

Can you identify the...

1. syntax of a simple algorithm
2. syntax of a conditional algorithm
3. syntax for all three conditional constructs
4. syntax for an assignment statement

How about being able to write a simple algorithm or a conditional algorithm?

Do you know what the debugging process entail?  The three types of errors that the compiler checks for?  Do you know what the difference is between a compiler and an interpreter?

Try solving the following problem, and see how efficiently you can do so:

The Carnival had 14 bands in it.  8 adult bands and 6 junior bands.  The organizers of the carnival charged the fee of $150.00 for each adult band and $100.00 for each junior band.  These fees were to offset the cost paid to the city council for road access and clean up, and the police department for security.  The city council charged a fee of $400.00 and the police department charged a fee of $500.00.  Calculate the total fee collected, and determine and state whether or not there was sufficient money collected to cover all fees.

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Intro to Programming Review: The problem solving phase

In computer program development, there are two phases:

1. Problem Solving Phase
2. Program Implementation Phase

As a beginning programmer, you must understand that the key to writing efficient programs is to master the problem solving phase.

PROBLEM SOLVING PHASE

1. Define the problem
2. Find a solution
3. Evaluate alternate solutions
4. Choose the most efficient solution and write an algorithm
5. Test the algorithm for correctness

To define the problem, a defining diagram is used.  The defining diagram is also known as an IPO table.  It is a three column table that separates the problem into INPUT, PROCESSING, and OUTPUT.

ALGORITHM

An algorithm is a series of instructions that rigorously defines the solution to a problem.

Forms of algorithms:

• Narrative algorithms - written in plain English text
• Pseudocode algorithms - written in English-like text (code) and English
• Flowchart - pictorial representation of an algorithm
• Structured algorithms - written in code; the only executable format of an algorithm

Types of algorithms:

• Simple algorithms
• Conditional algorithms
• Loops
• Arrays

Example of a simple algorithm:

Print "Hello Student"

Print "Hope you're reviewing for your upcoming test"

Print "Kindly enter your name"

Input sname$

Print sname$,"Good luck on your test"

Input key

Having trouble remembering simple algorithms?  Start a discussion in edmodo and ask your peers for help.