← VCE Data Analysis

Constraints on a solution

A limit on how a solution can be made, such as time, cost, skills, devices or software. A constraint is not a feature; it limits what you can build.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 67, VCE Software Development - U3O1 - Programming — Module 4, VCE Software Development - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 31, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 5, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 23, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Defining and decomposing problems — Module 10, VCE Applied Computing U1O2 Programming: Requirements and design tools — Module 4, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Understanding Digital Problems — Module 32, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 33, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data and Programming Techniques — Module 4, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 3 — Real-World Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 9, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 4 — Complex Digital Data Exchange Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 4

Understanding Constraints on a solution in VCE Data Analysis

What it does: The devices students already have limit how the solution can be made, so this is a constraint about devices. The requirement says what the solution must do. The constraint limits how the team can make it. Devices and software that you have to use are technical limits. Saving a score is something the program does, so it is a requirement. A deadline is a constraint because it limits how much can be built, no matter how good the ideas are. Plan around the limit, for example by using a block-based tool or by learning a simple skill first.

Common mistakes: Having to run on school iPads is a device limit, so it is a constraint. The line should start with 'Constraint:', not 'Feature:'. A constraint is a limit. 'Unlimited time' is not a limit. It should be a real time limit such as 'Finish in 3 weeks', which matches the plan.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 56–67) and word search (Modules 56–80).

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Learning
Duo
Which one is a constraint on a school app project?
The app must be finished in 4 weeksThe app shows the lunch menu
Matches
Constraint: the app must have a quiz feature
↓
This is a feature or functional requirement, not a constraint. A constraint is a limit such as time, cost, skills, devices or software.
Applying
Meanings
Term
constraint
Meaning
A limit on how a solution can be made, such as time, cost, skills, devices or software. A constraint is not a feature; it limits what you can build.
Practice
Constraint 1: Time - ready in 4 weeks
Testing
Gaps
: Only 2 weeks to build the app
Check Answer
Spots
2Constraint: Budget is $50
3Feature: Must run on iPads

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Quick Questions

1. Which one is a constraint on a school app project?
A. The app must be finished in 4 weeks ✓
B. The app shows the lunch menu
A deadline is a time constraint. It limits how the solution can be made. Showing the lunch menu is a feature, which is a requirement.
2. A team has a budget of $0 and can only use free tools. What is this?
A. A budget constraint ✓
B. A functional requirement
A limit on money is a budget constraint. It limits what the team can use to build the solution.
3. True or false: A constraint is a feature the solution must do.
A. True
B. False ✓
A constraint is a limit on how you can build the solution. A feature or function the solution must do is a requirement.
4. Which one is a technical constraint?
A. The program must let users save their score
B. The program must run on the school's old tablets ✓
Devices and software that you have to use are technical limits. Saving a score is something the program does, so it is a requirement.
5. Your team only knows block coding. What type of constraint is this?
A. A skills constraint ✓
B. A time constraint
What the team knows how to do limits how the solution can be made. This is a skills constraint.

Match the Pairs

Constraint: finish in 3 weeks → A time limit on how long the team has to build the solution
Constraint: budget of $200 → A cost limit on what can be spent on the solution
A technical limit: the solution must run on the school's old laptops → Constraint: must work on old laptops
A constraint is different from a requirement: it limits how you build, not what the solution does → Requirement: show the bus times Constraint: use only free software
Constraint: the app must have a quiz feature → This is a feature or functional requirement, not a constraint. A constraint is a limit such as time, cost, skills, devices or software.
Constraint: our team has no coding skills, so we can ignore this → Skills are a real constraint. Ignoring a limit on skills or resources leads to a plan the team cannot finish.

Key Term

constraint
A limit on how a solution can be made, such as time, cost, skills, devices or software. A constraint is not a feature; it limits what you can build.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Constraint: Only 2 weeks to build the app
Hint: Type the word for a limit on how a solution can be made, such as a time limit.
2. Requirement: The app shows the quiz score Constraint: Only school laptops can be used
Hint: Type the word for something the solution must do. It is a feature, not a limit.
3. Constraint: The budget is only $20 Type: cost
Hint: Type the kind of limit that is about how much money can be spent.
4. Constraint: Must run on old school tablets Type: device
Hint: Type the kind of limit that is about the equipment the solution has to run on.
5. Constraint: The team only knows Scratch Type: skills
Hint: Type the kind of limit that is about what the team already knows how to do.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Project: Homework planner app
B Constraint: Budget is $50
C Feature: Must run on iPads
D Requirement: Shows due dates
Line C — Having to run on school iPads is a device limit, so it is a constraint. The line should start with 'Constraint:', not 'Feature:'.
Question 2
A Project: Class quiz website
B Constraint: Unlimited time
C Plan: Week 1 design
D Plan: Weeks 2-3 build and test
Line B — A constraint is a limit. 'Unlimited time' is not a limit. It should be a real time limit such as 'Finish in 3 weeks', which matches the plan.
Question 3
A Project: Class photo gallery
B Team skill: HTML and CSS only
C Budget: $0
D Constraint: Buy new tools
Line D — The budget is $0, so the team cannot buy tools. The constraint should say 'Use free tools'.
Question 4
A Requirement: App shows scores
B Requirement: Users can log in
C Constraint: App sends reminders
D Constraint: Budget is $100
Line C — Sending reminders is something the app does, so it is a requirement, not a constraint. A constraint is a limit, such as 'Done by May'.
Question 5
A Budget constraint: $40
B Buy: drawing tool for $60
C Money left: $10
Line B — A $60 tool is over the $40 budget, and it would not leave $10. The tool must cost $30 to stay within the constraint.

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