← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division operators

The arithmetic operators in pseudocode: + adds, - subtracts, * multiplies and / divides. Example: Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark stores the result in a variable.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 8.1a Data Types and Variables — Module 27

Understanding Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division operators in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

What it does: This expression uses * for multiplication and / for division, and ← stores the result in Answer. The + symbol adds the two values, and the result is assigned to Total using the ← operator. Pseudocode uses the asterisk * for multiplication. The letter x is not an operator, so it would be read as an identifier. Division is written with the forward slash /. The ÷ symbol is not used in pseudocode expressions. The variable being assigned to goes on the left of ←, and the expression goes on the right. Score * 100 is 4500, and 4500 / 60 is 75. Operators * and / are worked out from left to right, so the multiplication happens first.

Common mistakes: The letter x is not a multiplication operator in pseudocode. Multiplication uses *, so the line should be Total ← Price * 3. A value is stored in a variable with the assignment arrow ←, not =. The line should be MaxMark ← 60.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 327–336) and word search (Modules 317–336).

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Learning
Duo
Which symbol multiplies two numbers in Cambridge pseudocode?
x*
Matches
Area ← Length x Width
↓
The letter x is not a multiplication operator in pseudocode. Use * instead: Area ← Length * Width
Applying
Meanings
Term
+ - * /
Meaning
The arithmetic operators in pseudocode: + adds, - subtracts, * multiplies and / divides. Example: Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark stores the result in a variable.
Practice
Score ← 45
Testing
Gaps
Answer ← Score 100 / MaxMark
Check Answer
Spots
1Price ← 5
2Total ← Price x 3

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Quick Questions

1. Which symbol multiplies two numbers in Cambridge pseudocode?
A. x
B. * ✓
Pseudocode uses the asterisk * for multiplication. The letter x is not an operator, so it would be read as an identifier.
2. Which symbol divides one number by another in Cambridge pseudocode?
A. / ✓
B. ÷
Division is written with the forward slash /. The ÷ symbol is not used in pseudocode expressions.
3. Which line correctly stores the total of Price and Tax in Total?
A. Total ← Price + Tax ✓
B. Price + Tax ← Total
The variable being assigned to goes on the left of ←, and the expression goes on the right.
4. Score is 45 and MaxMark is 60. What does Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark store in Answer?
A. 75 ✓
B. 2700
Score * 100 is 4500, and 4500 / 60 is 75. Operators * and / are worked out from left to right, so the multiplication happens first.
5. Which line correctly multiplies Length by Width and stores the result in Area?
A. Area ← Length Width
B. Area ← Length * Width ✓
An operator is needed between the two identifiers. Without * the line has no valid expression.

Match the Pairs

Total ← Price * Quantity → Multiplies Price by Quantity and stores the result in Total
Average ← Sum / Count → Divides Sum by Count and stores the result in Average
Work out a percentage by multiplying the score by 100, then dividing by the maximum mark, and storing it in a variable → Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark
Add two numbers together and store the result in a variable → Total ← Mark1 + Mark2
Area ← Length x Width → The letter x is not a multiplication operator in pseudocode. Use * instead: Area ← Length * Width
Score + 5 ← NewScore → The result must be stored on the left of the ← operator, with the expression on the right: NewScore ← Score + 5

Key Term

+ - * /
The arithmetic operators in pseudocode: + adds, - subtracts, * multiplies and / divides. Example: Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark stores the result in a variable.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark
Hint: Type the operator that multiplies Score by 100.
2. Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark
Hint: Type the operator that divides by the maximum mark.
3. Total ← Price + Tax
Hint: Type the operator that adds two numbers together.
4. Change ← Paid - Cost
Hint: Type the operator that subtracts the cost from the amount paid.
5. Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark
Hint: Type the symbol that stores the result in the variable.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Price ← 5
B Total ← Price x 3
C OUTPUT Total
Line B — The letter x is not a multiplication operator in pseudocode. Multiplication uses *, so the line should be Total ← Price * 3.
Question 2
A Score ← 45
B MaxMark = 60
C Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark
D OUTPUT Answer
Line B — A value is stored in a variable with the assignment arrow ←, not =. The line should be MaxMark ← 60.
Question 3
A Cost ← 12 & 8
B Change ← 20 - Cost
C OUTPUT Change
Line A — The & symbol does not add numbers. Addition uses +, so the line should be Cost ← 12 + 8.
Question 4
A Width ← 6
B Height ← 4
C Area ← Width + Height
D OUTPUT Area
Line C — Area is width multiplied by height, so the operator must be *, not +. The line should be Area ← Width * Height.
Question 5
A Total ← 90
B Count ← 3
C Mean ← Total / Count
D Double ← 2 Mean
E OUTPUT Double
Line D — There is no operator between 2 and Mean. Multiplication must be written with *, so the line should be Double ← Mean * 2.

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