Input-process-output (IPO) chart

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which describes an IPO chart?

A A two-column table listing problems and their fixes

B A three-column table listing inputs, processes and outputs

2. Which item belongs in the Input column for a class marks spreadsheet?

A Student test scores typed in by the teacher

B The class average shown at the bottom

3. Which item belongs in the Process column?

A A bar chart of the results

B Add up the scores and divide by the number of students

4. Which item belongs in the Output column?

A A report showing the total sales for each month

B Sales figures entered from receipts

5. What is the correct order of the columns in an IPO chart, left to right?

A Input, Process, Output

B Output, Process, Input

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1Input column		ALists the calculations, sorting or filtering applied to the input data, such as adding up prices
2Process column		BEntering a name is data going in, so it belongs in the input column. An output should be a result, such as a class list.
3The output column lists what the solution produces, such as a total or a report		C\| Input \| Process \| Output \|
4An IPO chart is a three-column table: Input, Process, Output		DOutput: Total cost = $45.50
5Input: Calculate the average mark		ELists the data the user enters or the solution receives, such as item prices or quantities
6Output: Enter the student's name		FCalculating is an action, so it belongs in the process column. An input should be data, such as the list of marks.

Definitions

IPO chart

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

IPO chart columns: _____ | Process | Output

Input: price, quantity _______: total ← price * quantity Output: total

Input: price, quantity Process: total ← price _ quantity Output: total

Input: price, quantity Process: total ← price * quantity Output: _____

Input: ______ Process: total ← SUM(scores) Output: total

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A INPUT: price, qty

B PROCESS: total = price + qty

C OUTPUT: total

Question 2

A OUTPUT: hours, rate

B PROCESS: pay = hours * rate

C OUTPUT: pay

Question 3

A INPUT: m1, m2, m3

B PROCESS: total = m1 + m2 + m3

C PROCESS: avg = total / 3

D INPUT: avg

Question 4

A INPUT: f

B PROCESS: f = c * 9 / 5 + 32

C OUTPUT: f

Question 5

A IPO chart: quiz percentage

B INPUT: right, total

C PROCESS: pct = total/right*100

D OUTPUT: pct

Answer Key

Input-process-output (IPO) chart

Section A: Quick Questions

B — A three-column table listing inputs, processes and outputs

A — Student test scores typed in by the teacher

B — Add up the scores and divide by the number of students

A — A report showing the total sales for each month

A — Input, Process, Output

Section B: Match the Pairs

Input column → Lists the data the user enters or the solution receives, such as item prices or quantities

Process column → Lists the calculations, sorting or filtering applied to the input data, such as adding up prices

The output column lists what the solution produces, such as a total or a report → Output: Total cost = $45.50

An IPO chart is a three-column table: Input, Process, Output → | Input | Process | Output |

Input: Calculate the average mark → Calculating is an action, so it belongs in the process column. An input should be data, such as the list of marks.

Output: Enter the student's name → Entering a name is data going in, so it belongs in the input column. An output should be a result, such as a class list.

Section C: Definitions

IPO chart — A three-column table listing a solution's inputs (data entered), the processes applied to that data, and the outputs it produces, such as a total or report.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

IPO chart columns: Input | Process | Output

Input: price, quantity
Process: total ← price * quantity
Output: total

Input: price, quantity
Process: total ← price * quantity
Output: total

Input: price, quantity
Process: total ← price * quantity
Output: total

Input: scores
Process: total ← SUM(scores)
Output: total

Section E: Spot the Error

B — The process column must show the correct calculation. A total cost is price multiplied by quantity, so it should be price * qty, not price + qty.

A — Hours and rate are data entered by the user, so they belong in the input column. The first line should be INPUT: hours, rate.

D — The average is calculated by the process, so it is a result and not an input. It belongs in the output column: OUTPUT: avg.

A — The user enters the Celsius value c, and the process works out f. Because f is calculated, it is the output. The input line should be INPUT: c.

C — A percentage is the part divided by the whole. The formula should be right/total*100, not total/right*100.