← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

Arithmetic operators + - * / ^ (7c)

Pseudocode arithmetic operators: add, subtract, multiply, divide and ^ for power. Power, * and / are worked out before + and -. Division always gives a REAL result.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7c Pseudocode and Flowcharts — Module 12

Understanding Arithmetic operators + - * / ^ (7c) in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

What it does: 3 * 4 is worked out first to give 12, then 2 is added to give 14. Brackets would be needed to add first. 10 / 5 gives 2.0, a REAL value, not an INTEGER. Use DIV if a whole-number result is needed. Pseudocode uses ^ for powers, for example Radius ^ 2. The ** symbol belongs to Python. * is worked out before +, so 3 * 4 = 12 and then 2 + 12 = 14. The power comes first: 2 ^ 3 = 8. Then 10 - 8 = 2. The multiply operator in pseudocode is *, not the letter x.

Common mistakes: Pseudocode does not use ** for powers. It uses ^, so the line should be Area ← 3.14 * Radius ^ 2. Multiplication is written with *, not the letter x. The line should be Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark.

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Learning
Duo
Which symbol raises a number to a power in pseudocode?
**^
Matches
Area ← Side x Side
↓
The letter x is used for multiplication. Pseudocode uses * to multiply, so it should be Area ← Side * Side.
Applying
Meanings
Term
+ - * / ^
Meaning
Pseudocode arithmetic operators: add, subtract, multiply, divide and ^ for power. Power, * and / are worked out before + and -. Division always gives a REAL result.
Practice
Percent ← Score * 100 / MaxMark
Testing
Gaps
Answer ← Score 100 / MaxMark
Check Answer
Spots
2Radius ← 5
3Area ← 3.14 * Radius ** 2

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Quick Questions

1. Which symbol raises a number to a power in pseudocode?
A. ^ ✓
B. **
Pseudocode uses ^ for powers, for example Radius ^ 2. The ** symbol belongs to Python.
2. Which line correctly finds the area of a circle in pseudocode?
A. Area ← Pi * Radius ** 2
B. Area ← Pi * Radius ^ 2 ✓
Use ^ for the power. The power is worked out first, then it is multiplied by Pi.
3. What is the value of 2 + 3 * 4 in pseudocode?
A. 20
B. 14 ✓
* is worked out before +, so 3 * 4 = 12 and then 2 + 12 = 14.
4. Score is 18 and MaxMark is 20. What does Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark store?
A. 90 ✓
B. 1800
18 * 100 = 1800, then the / 20 step gives 90. Both * and / are worked out before the answer is stored.
5. What is the value of 10 - 2 ^ 3?
A. 2 ✓
B. 512
The power comes first: 2 ^ 3 = 8. Then 10 - 8 = 2.

Match the Pairs

Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark → Works out a percentage: Score is multiplied by 100, then divided by MaxMark, and the result is stored in Answer
Answer ← Pi * Radius ^ 2 → Squares Radius first, then multiplies the result by Pi (the area of a circle)
Multiplication and division are worked out before addition and subtraction, so this gives 14, not 20 → Total ← 2 + 3 * 4
Division with / always gives a REAL result, even when the numbers divide exactly → Result ← 10 / 5
Area ← Side x Side → The letter x is used for multiplication. Pseudocode uses * to multiply, so it should be Area ← Side * Side.
Volume ← Side ** 3 → ** is Python-style power notation. Pseudocode uses ^ to raise to a power, so it should be Volume ← Side ^ 3.

Key Term

+ - * / ^
Pseudocode arithmetic operators: add, subtract, multiply, divide and ^ for power. Power, * and / are worked out before + and -. Division always gives a REAL result.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark
Hint: Type the operator that multiplies two values.
2. Area ← Pi * Radius ^ 2
Hint: Type the operator that raises a value to a power.
3. Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark // Answer is always a REAL
Hint: Type the operator that divides one value by another.
4. // 3 * 4 is done first, so Result is 14 Result ← 2 + 3 * 4
Hint: Type the operator that adds. Multiplication is worked out before it.
5. // Subtract the cost from the money paid Change ← Paid - Cost
Hint: Type the operator that subtracts one value from another.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A DECLARE Area : REAL
B Radius ← 5
C Area ← 3.14 * Radius ** 2
D OUTPUT Area
Line C — Pseudocode does not use ** for powers. It uses ^, so the line should be Area ← 3.14 * Radius ^ 2.
Question 2
A INPUT Score
B Answer ← Score x 100 / MaxMark
C OUTPUT Answer
Line B — Multiplication is written with *, not the letter x. The line should be Answer ← Score * 100 / MaxMark.
Question 3
A INPUT Mark1
B INPUT Mark2
C DECLARE Average : REAL
D Average ← Mark1 + Mark2 / 2
E OUTPUT Average
Line D — Division is worked out before addition, so only Mark2 is halved. Brackets are needed: Average ← (Mark1 + Mark2) / 2.
Question 4
A Total ← 25
B Count ← 4
C Mean ← Total DIV Count
D OUTPUT Mean
Line C — DIV gives only the whole-number part (6). The mean should be the exact value 6.25, so use / because division always gives a REAL result.
Question 5
A Area ← Side * 2
B Perimeter ← Side * 4
C OUTPUT Area, Perimeter
Line A — The area of a square is Side squared, which needs the power operator. It should be Area ← Side ^ 2, because Side * 2 only doubles the side.

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