← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Advantage: lower running costs and fewer errors

An automated system can cut costs over time as it needs fewer paid workers and wastes less material, energy or time, though buying it costs a lot at the start.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 6.1 Automated Systems — Module 38

Understanding Advantage: lower running costs and fewer errors in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: The system checks the amount of material and stops when enough has been used, so less is wasted and costs fall. Fewer wages is a main way automation lowers running costs. Machines do the work that people were paid to do. Automated systems repeat the same accurate cuts, so they waste less material. That saves money. Sensors detect that nobody is in the room, so the lights go off. Less energy used means a lower bill. Buying and installing automation is expensive. The savings build up over time, so they are not instant. The high start-up cost has to be paid back first. The savings come later as a running-cost benefit.

Common mistakes: The wages saved should be the number of robots multiplied by the wage each replaces. Adding gives the wrong total. It should be robots * 25000. An IF statement needs THEN after the condition. Line 1 should be IF room_empty = TRUE THEN.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 608–617) and word search (Modules 608–631).

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Learning
Duo
Why can an automated factory cut its running costs over time?
It needs more paid workers, so the wage bill risesIt needs fewer paid workers, so the wage bill falls
Matches
Automation saves money from the first day because the system costs nothing to buy.
↓
Automated systems cost a lot to buy and install at the start. The savings build up over time.
Applying
Meanings
Term
lower running costs
Meaning
An automated system can cut costs over time as it needs fewer paid workers and wastes less material, energy or time, though buying it costs a lot at the start.
Practice
purchaseCost ← 50000
Testing
Gaps
IF roomEmpty = TRUE
Check Answer
Spots
1robots ← 4
2wage_saved ← robots + 25000

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Quick Questions

1. Why can an automated factory cut its running costs over time?
A. It needs more paid workers, so the wage bill rises
B. It needs fewer paid workers, so the wage bill falls ✓
Fewer wages is a main way automation lowers running costs. Machines do the work that people were paid to do.
2. A robot cuts sheets of metal with very little left over. What is the cost benefit?
A. More material is wasted, so more money is spent on materials
B. Less material is wasted, so less money is spent on materials ✓
Automated systems repeat the same accurate cuts, so they waste less material. That saves money.
3. A school's automated lighting system switches lights off when a room is empty. How does this lower costs?
A. It saves energy, so the electricity bill is lower ✓
B. It uses extra energy, so the electricity bill is higher
Sensors detect that nobody is in the room, so the lights go off. Less energy used means a lower bill.
4. Which statement about the cost of an automated system is correct?
A. It costs a lot at the start, but can save money over time ✓
B. It costs nothing at the start and saves money straight away
Buying and installing automation is expensive. The savings build up over time, so they are not instant.
5. A greenhouse heating system uses a temperature sensor to switch the heater off once the room is warm enough. What does this show?
A. Automation can save energy and lower heating costs ✓
B. Automation always makes heating costs higher
The heater only runs when it is needed, so no energy is wasted on heating a room that is already warm.

Match the Pairs

lower running costs → Over time the system needs fewer paid workers and wastes less material, energy or time, so it costs less to run.
fewer wages → A machine does work that people used to be paid to do, so the business pays less in salaries.
Less waste: a sensor-controlled machine uses only the material it needs, which saves money → IF material_used > needed THEN stop_machine
Energy saved: lights switch off when a sensor detects that nobody is in the room, so the electricity bill is lower → IF movement = FALSE THEN light OFF
Automation saves money from the first day because the system costs nothing to buy. → Automated systems cost a lot to buy and install at the start. The savings build up over time.
An automated system always needs more paid workers than a manual one. → It usually needs fewer paid workers, because machines do the repeated tasks, which cuts wage costs.

Key Term

lower running costs
An automated system can cut costs over time as it needs fewer paid workers and wastes less material, energy or time, though buying it costs a lot at the start.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF roomEmpty = TRUE THEN lights ← "OFF" ENDIF
Hint: Type the keyword that introduces the action to run when the condition is true, so the system saves energy by switching lights off.
2. savings ← wagesSaved * years - setUpCost
Hint: Type the arithmetic operator that takes the high start-up cost away from the money saved over time.
3. workersNeeded ← 10 - 6 wages ← workersNeeded * payEach
Hint: Type the variable that holds how many paid workers are still needed after automation.
4. WHILE bottleLevel < fullLevel pump ← "ON" ENDWHILE
Hint: Type the comparison operator meaning the bottle is not yet full, so the machine stops at the right level and wastes no material.
5. IF temperature >= target THEN heater ← "OFF" ENDIF
Hint: Type the comparison operator meaning at or above the target, so the heating switches off and saves energy.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A robots ← 4
B wage_saved ← robots + 25000
C OUTPUT wage_saved
Line B — The wages saved should be the number of robots multiplied by the wage each replaces. Adding gives the wrong total. It should be robots * 25000.
Question 2
A IF room_empty = TRUE
B lights ← OFF
C energy_saved ← TRUE
D ENDIF
Line A — An IF statement needs THEN after the condition. Line 1 should be IF room_empty = TRUE THEN.
Question 3
A cost ← 60000
B saving ← 15000
C years ← 0
D WHILE cost < 0 DO
E cost ← cost - saving
F years ← years + 1
Line D — The cost starts at 60000, so cost < 0 is false and the loop never runs. The loop should continue while cost > 0, until the savings repay the buying cost.
Question 4
A saving ← new_cost - old_cost
B IF saving > 0 THEN
C OUTPUT "Costs cut"
D ENDIF
Line A — The saving is the old cost minus the new cost. The numbers are the wrong way round, so a real saving would come out negative. It should be old_cost - new_cost.
Question 5
A INPUT hours_off
B kwh_saved ← hours_off * 2
C money_saved ← kwh_saves * 0.3
D OUTPUT money_saved
Line C — The variable is spelled kwh_saved on line 2, but line 3 uses kwh_saves. This is a different, undeclared variable. It should be kwh_saved.

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