← Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

Drawing several alternatives in a flowchart

Putting one decision diamond after another, so a No arrow leads to the next diamond. This lets a flowchart choose between three or more paths, and every path reaches End.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Creating Digital Solutions — Module 25, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Designing and tracing algorithms — Module 27, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Designing and validating algorithms — Module 3, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7c Pseudocode and Flowcharts — Module 52, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Pseudocode and Algorithm Design — Module 43

Understanding Drawing several alternatives in a flowchart in Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

What it does: The first diamond gives one path. The second diamond splits the No path into two more, which makes three in total. Even the final path needs an arrow to End so the flowchart has no loose ends. If the answer is No, we ask the next question. That is how the diamonds are chained. Yes on diamond 1, Yes on diamond 2, or No on both. That makes 3 paths. A diamond holds a question with a Yes or No answer. Actions like printing go in rectangles or output shapes. Every path in a flowchart must finish at an End shape, or the algorithm never stops properly.

Common mistakes: A decision must be drawn as a diamond, not a box. Line 2 should be Diamond: temp > 30? Every path must reach End. This Yes path stops without an arrow to End. It should be Yes: say A, go to End.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 21–30) and word search (Modules 21–40).

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Learning

Duo

A flowchart must choose between 3 different paths. What shape do you need?

Only one decision diamondTwo decision diamonds, one after the other

Matches

Is it hot? Yes -> Wear shorts. No -> (no arrow)

↓

The No arrow goes nowhere. It should lead to the next decision diamond, such as Is it cold?

Applying

Meanings

Term

chained decisions

Meaning

Putting one decision diamond after another, so a No arrow leads to the next diamond. This lets a flowchart choose between three or more paths, and every path reaches End.

Practice

START

Testing

Gaps

-> Diamond 2: Is it sunny?

Check Answer

Spots

1Start

2Box: temp > 30?

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Quick Questions

1. A flowchart must choose between 3 different paths. What shape do you need?

A. Only one decision diamond

B. Two decision diamonds, one after the other ✓

One diamond has just two exits, Yes and No. Chaining a second diamond gives you a third path.

2. Which one is how chained decisions are joined?

A. The Yes arrow from the first diamond leads back to Start

B. The No arrow from the first diamond leads to the next diamond ✓

If the answer is No, we ask the next question. That is how the diamonds are chained.

3. A flowchart has 2 diamonds chained together. How many different paths can it have?

A. 3 paths ✓

B. 1 path

Yes on diamond 1, Yes on diamond 2, or No on both. That makes 3 paths.

4. Which is a good question to write inside a decision diamond?

A. Is the score 90 or more? ✓

B. Print the grade A

A diamond holds a question with a Yes or No answer. Actions like printing go in rectangles or output shapes.

5. Mia draws a flowchart with 3 paths. One path stops with no End shape. What is wrong?

A. Every path must reach End ✓

B. Nothing, only one path needs to reach End

Every path in a flowchart must finish at an End shape, or the algorithm never stops properly.

Match the Pairs

Is it raining? No -> Is it sunny? → The No arrow from the first diamond leads to a second diamond, so the flowchart can ask another question.

Yes -> Take an umbrella -> End → This path finishes at End. Every path in the flowchart must reach End.

Two diamonds chained together give three paths to choose from → Score > 80? Yes -> Gold. No -> Score > 50? Yes -> Silver. No -> Bronze

The last No path must also reach End, not stop → Score > 50? No -> Bronze -> End

Is it hot? Yes -> Wear shorts. No -> (no arrow) → The No arrow goes nowhere. It should lead to the next decision diamond, such as Is it cold?

Is it cold? No -> Wear a t-shirt (stops here) → The path stops without an arrow to End. Every path must finish at End.

Key Term

chained decisions

Putting one decision diamond after another, so a No arrow leads to the next diamond. This lets a flowchart choose between three or more paths, and every path reaches End.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Diamond 1: Is it raining? Yes -> Take umbrella -> End No -> Diamond 2: Is it sunny?

Hint: Type the arrow label that leads on to the next diamond when the answer is not true.

2. Diamond 1: Is the score 90 or more? Yes -> Grade A -> End No -> Diamond 2: Is the score 50 or more?

Hint: Type the final box that every path must reach.

3. Diamond 1: Is the day Saturday? Yes -> Play footy -> End No -> Diamond 2: Is the day Sunday?

Hint: Type the name of the shape that the No arrow points to next to chain the decisions.

4. Diamond 1: Is the number below 10? Yes -> Show Small -> End No -> Diamond 2: Is it below 100?

Hint: Type the label on the arrow that is followed when the answer is true.

5. Diamond 1: Is it hot? Yes -> Wear shorts -> End No -> Diamond 2: Is it cold?

Hint: Type the number of the second decision diamond in the chain.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Start

B Box: temp > 30?

C Yes: say Hot, go to End

D No: Diamond: temp > 15?

E Yes: say Mild, go to End

F No: say Cold, go to End

Line B — A decision must be drawn as a diamond, not a box. Line 2 should be Diamond: temp > 30?

Question 2

A Start

B Diamond: score > 89?

C Yes: say A

D No: Diamond: score > 59?

E Yes: say B, go to End

F No: say C, go to End

Line C — Every path must reach End. This Yes path stops without an arrow to End. It should be Yes: say A, go to End.

Question 3

A Start

B Diamond: pet is dog?

C Yes: say Woof, go to End

D No: go to End

E Yes: say Meow, go to End

F No: say Hello, go to End

Line D — The No arrow must lead to the next diamond so the flowchart can check the next choice. Here it skips the cat question. It should be No: Diamond: pet is cat?

Question 4

A Start

B Diamond: age < 5?

C No: say Free, go to End

D No: Diamond: age < 13?

E Yes: say Child, go to End

F No: say Adult, go to End

Line C — An age under 5 is the Yes answer, so this arrow must be labelled Yes. Two No arrows from one diamond is a mistake. It should be Yes: say Free, go to End.

Question 5

A Start

B Diamond: say Stop

C Yes: say Stop, go to End

D No: Diamond: light is amber?

E Yes: say Slow, go to End

F No: say Go, go to End

Line B — A diamond holds a yes/no question, not an action. It should be Diamond: light is red?

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