Listing requirements and constraints for a problem

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. A school canteen app needs to let students order lunch. Is "Students can choose items and place an order" a requirement or a constraint?

A A requirement, because it says what the app must do

B A constraint, because it says what the app must do

2. The canteen app project has a budget of $200 and must be finished by Term 3. Which label fits these statements?

A Constraints, because they are limits the solution must work within

B Requirements, because they are limits the solution must work within

3. Which requirement is clear and testable?

A The app should be really fast and nice to use

B The app shows the total price within 2 seconds of choosing items

4. True or false: A requirements list should sort what the solution must do from the limits it must work within.

A False

B True

5. A team is building a quiz game for Year 7 maths. Which item is a constraint?

A It must run on the school's old laptops

B It must show a score after each quiz

Match the Pairs

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

Left column		Right column
1Requirement: The app must let a student add a homework task		AA statement of something the solution must do for the user
2Constraint: The app must work on school tablets		BThis is vague and cannot be tested. 'Easy' and 'fun' mean different things to different people.
3A requirements list sorts items under two headings for one defined problem		CProblem: Help students track homework Requirements: add a task, mark it done Constraints: free to use, works on tablets
4Each item should be clear and testable so you can check it is met		DRequirement: The app shows tasks due today in under 3 seconds
5Constraints: add a task, delete a task, set reminders		EA limit the solution has to work within
6Requirement: The app should be easy and fun		FThese are things the solution must do, so they are requirements, not constraints. Constraints are limits such as budget, time or device.

Definitions

requirements list

Fill in the Blanks

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

___________: The app must save the score

Problem: Make a school club website __________: Must be finished in 2 weeks

Requirement: The app ____ show due dates

Vague: The app should be fast ________: Loads in under 3 seconds

_______: Students cannot find library books Requirement: Search books by title Constraint: Must run on school laptops

Spot the Error

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

Question 1

A Problem: Canteen order app

B Requirement: Pick a lunch

C Requirement: Budget is $500

D Requirement: Show the total

Question 2

A Problem: School bell alarm

B Requirement: Show the time

C Requirement: Ring at some time

D Constraint: Use a $20 board

Question 3

A Problem: Class quiz website

B Requirement: Show 10 questions

C Requirement: Save each score

D Constraint: Should not be slow

Question 4

A Problem: Sports day results

B Requirement: Enter each time

C Constraint: Finish by Friday

D Constraint: Rank the winners

Question 5

A Problem: Contacts app

B Requirement: Add, edit, share

C Constraint: Uses under 50MB

Answer Key

Listing requirements and constraints for a problem

Section A: Quick Questions

A — A requirement, because it says what the app must do

A — Constraints, because they are limits the solution must work within

B — The app shows the total price within 2 seconds of choosing items

B — True

A — It must run on the school's old laptops

Section B: Match the Pairs

Requirement: The app must let a student add a homework task → A statement of something the solution must do for the user

Constraint: The app must work on school tablets → A limit the solution has to work within

A requirements list sorts items under two headings for one defined problem → Problem: Help students track homework Requirements: add a task, mark it done Constraints: free to use, works on tablets

Each item should be clear and testable so you can check it is met → Requirement: The app shows tasks due today in under 3 seconds

Constraints: add a task, delete a task, set reminders → These are things the solution must do, so they are requirements, not constraints. Constraints are limits such as budget, time or device.

Requirement: The app should be easy and fun → This is vague and cannot be tested. 'Easy' and 'fun' mean different things to different people.

Section C: Definitions

requirements list — A list that sorts what a solution must do (requirements) from the limits it must work within (constraints), for one problem. Each item should be clear and testable.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

Requirement: The app must save the score

Problem: Make a school club website
Constraint: Must be finished in 2 weeks

Requirement: The app must show due dates

Vague: The app should be fast
Testable: Loads in under 3 seconds

Problem: Students cannot find library books
Requirement: Search books by title
Constraint: Must run on school laptops

Section E: Spot the Error

C — A budget is a limit the solution must work within, so it is a constraint. It should be 'Constraint: Budget is $500'.

C — 'Some time' cannot be tested. A clear requirement gives a time you can check, such as 'Requirement: Ring at 9:00am'.

D — 'Not slow' is vague and cannot be tested. A testable constraint gives a measure, such as 'Loads in 3 seconds'.

D — Ranking the winners is something the solution must do, so it is a requirement. It should start with 'Requirement:'.

B — This line bundles three different things into one item, so one check cannot test it. Each item should be one clear, testable thing, like 'Add a contact'.