← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Completing a flowchart prediction table

A table listing each flowchart shape you visit in order, the Yes or No answer at each diamond, the variable values after each step, and any output.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Tracing and Debugging Algorithms — Module 37

Understanding Completing a flowchart prediction table in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: The shape column lists Start, the step, the decision and the output in the order you follow the arrows. A decision does not change variables, so you write Yes or No and copy the current values down unchanged. 60 is greater than 50, so the condition is true. Write Yes in the row for that diamond. Only decision diamonds ask a question. Rectangles just do a step, so that cell is left blank. Each visit is a new row, because the Yes/No answer and the variable values can change each time. Record the value after the step runs. 10 + 5 = 15.

Common mistakes: x is 5 and 5 is greater than 3, so the answer at the diamond is Yes, not No. The row should read: Decision x>3? | Yes. n was 1 before this step, so adding 1 makes it 2, not 3. The row should read: Process n<-n+1 | n=2.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 420–481) and word search (Modules 420–519).

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Learning
Duo
Which column layout is best for a flowchart prediction table?
Only the final answer at the endShape or step, Yes/No answer, variable values, output
Matches
count > 3? | 5
↓
The answer to a diamond must be Yes or No. The student wrote the value of count instead.
Applying
Meanings
Term
prediction table
Meaning
A table listing each flowchart shape you visit in order, the Yes or No answer at each diamond, the variable values after each step, and any output.
Practice
Shape | Answer | count | Output
Testing
Gaps
Shape | Yes or No | x |
Check Answer
Spots
2Process x<-5 | x=5
3Decision x>3? | No

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Quick Questions

1. Which column layout is best for a flowchart prediction table?
A. Only the final answer at the end
B. Shape or step, Yes/No answer, variable values, output ✓
A prediction table lists every shape you visit in order, with the decision answers, variable values and any output, so you can check each stage.
2. A flowchart diamond asks: Is score > 50? and score is 60. What do you write in the Yes/No column?
A. Yes ✓
B. No
60 is greater than 50, so the condition is true. Write Yes in the row for that diamond.
3. Which shape gets a Yes or No entry in the prediction table?
A. A decision diamond ✓
B. A process rectangle
Only decision diamonds ask a question. Rectangles just do a step, so that cell is left blank.
4. In what order do you fill in the rows of a prediction table?
A. In the order you visit the shapes, following the arrows ✓
B. In the order the shapes are drawn on the page, top to bottom
Follow the arrows. A loop can send you back to a shape, so that shape gets a new row each time you visit it.
5. A flowchart goes through a loop 3 times. How many rows does the loop's decision diamond get?
A. Only one row in total
B. One row for every visit to the diamond ✓
Each visit is a new row, because the Yes/No answer and the variable values can change each time.

Match the Pairs

score > 50? | Yes → A diamond row: write the Yes or No answer to the decision in the answer column
OUTPUT total | 12 in Output column → An output shape row: write the value that is displayed in the output column
Each shape you visit gets its own row, in the order you visit it → Start | total <- 0 | count > 3? | OUTPUT total
A decision row records Yes or No, and the variable values stay the same → count > 3? | Yes | count = 5
count > 3? | 5 → The answer to a diamond must be Yes or No. The student wrote the value of count instead.
total <- 0 | OUTPUT total (no diamond row) → The decision shape was skipped, so its row and Yes or No answer are missing from the table.

Key Term

prediction table
A table listing each flowchart shape you visit in order, the Yes or No answer at each diamond, the variable values after each step, and any output.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Shape | Yes or No | x | Output
Hint: Type the name of the last column, which records anything the flowchart displays.
2. x ← 3 Is x > 5? Answer: No
Hint: Type the answer for this diamond. Check whether the condition is true for the current value of x.
3. x ← 4 Process: x ← x + 2 Value of x after step: 6
Hint: Type the new value of x after the process step has run.
4. count ← 3 Is count <= 3? Answer: Yes
Hint: Type the answer to record in the Yes or No column for this diamond.
5. total ← 2 + 3 Output total Output column shows: 5
Hint: Type the value that goes in the output column for this output shape.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Start | x not set yet
B Process x<-5 | x=5
C Decision x>3? | No
D Output x | 5
Line C — x is 5 and 5 is greater than 3, so the answer at the diamond is Yes, not No. The row should read: Decision x>3? | Yes.
Question 2
A Process n<-0 | n=0
B Process n<-n+1 | n=1
C Process n<-n+1 | n=3
D Output n | 2
Line C — n was 1 before this step, so adding 1 makes it 2, not 3. The row should read: Process n<-n+1 | n=2.
Question 3
A Process total<-10 | total=10
B Process total<-total+5 | 15
C Process total<-total*2 | 25
D Output total | 30
Line C — total was 15 and doubling it gives 30, not 25. The row should read: Process total<-total*2 | 30.
Question 4
A Process x<-8 | x=8
B Decision x<5? | Yes
C Output x | 8
Line B — x is 8 and 8 is not less than 5, so the answer at the diamond is No. The row should read: Decision x<5? | No.
Question 5
A Process i<-1 | i=1
B Decision i<=3? | No
C Output i | 1
D Process i<-i+1 | i=2
Line B — i is 1 and 1 is less than or equal to 3, so the answer is Yes. The later rows only make sense if the decision was Yes.

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