Years 7–8 Creating Digital Solutions Definitions Worksheet: Defining and decomposing problems and Designing and tracing algorithms (Modules 3–47)
Name:
Date:
Class:
✎
Key terms
Write what each term means, in your own words.
1
interview
2
decomposition
3
decomposition diagram
4
non-functional requirement
5
nested if
6
if x > 0 then for i from 1 to x
7
parallelogram
8
nested decision
9
decision inside a loop
10
trace an if
Answer Key
Years 7–8 Creating Digital Solutions · Modules 3–47 · Student wording will vary for definitions
1interview — A conversation where you ask one user questions and listen to their answers to learn about their problem.
2decomposition — Splitting a big problem into smaller sub-problems, such as input, process and output. Each part can be solved on its own, then the solutions are combined.
3decomposition diagram — A tree with the whole problem at the top and boxes below for its smaller sub-problems. Each level adds detail, and you stop splitting when a part is simple.
4non-functional requirement — A rule about how well a solution must work, such as how fast, easy to use or reliable it is. It is not about what the solution does, which is a functional requirement.
5nested if — An if block written inside another if block. The inner condition is only checked when the outer condition is true. Indent the inner block and give each if its own end if.
6if x > 0 then for i from 1 to x — A loop written inside an if branch only runs when that branch's condition is true. If the condition is false, the loop is skipped. An else branch can hold a loop too.
7parallelogram — The flowchart shape for an input or output step, like getting a name from the user or showing a result. Write the action and variable inside, e.g. Input age.
8nested decision — A diamond placed on the Yes or No path of another diamond, so the second question is only asked after the first answer. Every path still ends at the End shape.
9decision inside a loop — A diamond on the loop path is asked on every pass. Both its Yes and No branches rejoin, then go back to the loop test, usually after the counter update.
10trace an if — Check the condition using the current values, record TRUE or FALSE in the trace table, then follow only the branch that is true and skip the other branch.