← Years 7–8 Creating Digital Solutions

Drawing a nested decision in a flowchart

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.

Part of: 7-8 Digital Technologies: Designing and tracing algorithms — Module 28, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7c Pseudocode and Flowcharts — Module 53, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Algorithms with Logical Operators — Module 23

Understanding Drawing a nested decision in a flowchart in Years 7–8 Creating Digital Solutions

What it does: The second diamond sits on the Yes arrow of the first, so it is only reached if it is raining. Both branches of the inner diamond lead to the End shape, so no path is left dangling. Nested means one diamond is inside a branch of another. A diamond whose Yes path leads to another diamond is nested. All paths reach End. The outer No path needs an arrow to an output or straight to the End shape. Questions are always drawn as diamonds. Rectangles are for processes, so they can't ask the inner question.

Common mistakes: The second question must be a diamond (Decision) on the Yes path. A process rectangle cannot ask a question. It should be: Yes -> Decision: has pass? A diamond must hold a yes/no question, not an action. It should be: Decision: mark >= 50?

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 3–47) and word search (Modules 3–125).

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Learning

Duo

Where do you draw the second diamond in a nested decision?

Before the Start shapeOn the Yes or No path of the first diamond

Matches

Is it raining? Yes -> Print 'Wear a coat' (inner diamond floats next to it, with no arrow in)

↓

The inner diamond is not joined to the Yes arrow of the first diamond, so it can never be reached.

Applying

Meanings

Term

nested decision

Meaning

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.

Practice

Start

Testing

Gaps

Yes -> 2: Is mark >= 85?

Check Answer

Spots

3Decision: age >= 13?

4Yes -> Process: has pass?

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Quick Questions

1. Where do you draw the second diamond in a nested decision?

A. Before the Start shape

B. On the Yes or No path of the first diamond ✓

A nested decision puts the inner diamond on one branch of the outer diamond, so the second question is only asked after the first answer.

2. A flowchart asks 'Is it raining?' If Yes, it then asks 'Do I have an umbrella?' Which diamond is the inner one?

A. Is it raining?

B. Do I have an umbrella? ✓

The inner diamond sits on the Yes path of the outer diamond. 'Is it raining?' is asked first, so it is the outer diamond.

3. When is the inner diamond's question asked?

A. Only after the first question has been answered the right way for that branch ✓

B. Every time, at the same moment as the first question

The inner question sits on one branch, so it is only reached if the flow goes down that branch.

4. Each diamond in a nested decision needs how many exits?

A. Two labelled exits, Yes and No ✓

B. Just one exit

Every diamond is a question, so both the inner and the outer diamond need a Yes path and a No path.

5. In a nested decision flowchart, where do all the paths finally go?

A. Every path reaches the End shape ✓

B. Only the Yes paths reach the End shape

Even the paths that skip the inner diamond must still finish at End. No path can be left hanging.

Match the Pairs

Diamond A: Yes arrow -> Diamond B → A nested decision: the second question (B) is only asked when the answer to A is Yes.

Diamond A: No arrow -> End → This path skips the inner diamond and goes straight to the End shape, so every path still finishes.

The inner question is only asked after the first answer is Yes → Is it raining? Yes -> Do I have an umbrella?

Every path in a nested decision flowchart finishes at End → Inner Yes -> Take umbrella -> End; Inner No -> Stay home -> End

Is it raining? Yes -> Print 'Wear a coat' (inner diamond floats next to it, with no arrow in) → The inner diamond is not joined to the Yes arrow of the first diamond, so it can never be reached.

Inner diamond: Yes -> Take umbrella -> End; No -> (arrow goes nowhere) → The No path of the inner diamond does not reach End, so the flowchart never finishes on that path.

Key Term

nested 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.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Diamond 1: Is mark >= 50? Yes -> Diamond 2: Is mark >= 85? No -> Print "Try again" -> End

Hint: Type the name of the shape used for the second question on the Yes path.

2. Diamond 1: Is it a weekday? Yes -> Diamond 2: Is it before 8am? No -> Print "Sleep in" -> End

Hint: Type the branch label whose path leads to the inner diamond.

3. Diamond 1: Is score > 10? Yes -> Diamond 2: Is score > 20? No -> Print "Low" -> End

Hint: Type the shape that every path must finish at.

4. Diamond 1: Is it a school day? Yes -> Diamond 2: Is it raining? No -> Print "Free day" -> End

Hint: Type the number that names the inner diamond, the one asked second.

5. Diamond 1 Yes -> Diamond 2: Is x > 100? Diamond 2 Yes -> Print "Big" -> End Diamond 2 No -> Print "Small" -> End

Hint: Type the other branch label that leaves the inner diamond.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Start

B Input age

C Decision: age >= 13?

D Yes -> Process: has pass?

E No -> Output Too young

F All paths -> End

Line D — The second question must be a diamond (Decision) on the Yes path. A process rectangle cannot ask a question. It should be: Yes -> Decision: has pass?

Question 2

A Start

B Input mark

C Decision: Add 50 to mark

D Yes -> Decision: mark >= 80?

E No -> Output Try again

F All paths -> End

Line C — A diamond must hold a yes/no question, not an action. It should be: Decision: mark >= 50?

Question 3

A Start

B Output temp

C Decision: temp > 25?

D Yes -> Decision: sunny?

E No -> Output Wear a jumper

F All paths -> End

Line B — The value must be entered before the decision uses it. Line 2 should be Input temp, not Output temp.

Question 4

A End

B Input coins

C Decision: coins >= 2?

D Yes -> Decision: want drink?

E No -> Output Need more

F All paths -> End

Line A — A flowchart must begin with the Start shape. Line 1 should be Start. End belongs at the finish of every path.

Question 5

A Start

B Input

C Decision: score >= 50?

D Yes -> Decision: score >= 90?

E Yes -> Output Top mark

F All paths -> End

Line B — The input step must say what is being entered. Without a variable the decisions have no value to test. It should be: Input score

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