Algorithm Header and Structure

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which is the correct first line of a VCAA maths pseudocode algorithm?

A Algorithm: find the total

B algorithm: find the total

2. What punctuation mark must follow the word Algorithm in a VCAA maths pseudocode header?

A A dash — Algorithm - name

B A colon — Algorithm: name

3. In a VCAA maths pseudocode algorithm, where does the input statement appear?

A After the processing and print statements

B After the Algorithm header, before processing

4. Which keywords wrap the body of a VCE Software Development pseudocode algorithm?

A Begin ... End

B Start ... Finish

5. Can a VCAA maths pseudocode algorithm have a second Algorithm: header inside its body?

A No — each algorithm is a separate independent unit

B Yes — nested Algorithm headers are allowed

Match the Pairs

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

Left column		Right column
1Algorithm: find the larger input a, b if a > b then print a		AWrong — the Algorithm header requires a colon: `Algorithm: find the sum`. Without the colon the header does not follow VCAA pseudocode convention
2Begin result <- a + b Print result End		BA complete VCE Software Development pseudocode algorithm: Begin opens the body, statements are indented inside, and End closes it
3The Algorithm: header must be the first line of a VCAA maths pseudocode algorithm and uses a capital A and a colon		CWrong — the keyword must have a capital A: `Algorithm: find total`. Lowercase `algorithm` does not follow VCAA convention
4In VCE Software Development pseudocode, Begin opens and End closes the algorithm body; all statements inside are indented		DAlgorithm: compute average input x, y average <- (x + y) / 2 print average
5algorithm: find total input a, b total <- a + b		EA complete VCAA maths pseudocode algorithm: Algorithm header names it, input collects values, then processing and output follow in order
6Algorithm find the sum input a, b print a + b		FBegin score <- x * 10 Print score End

Definitions

Algorithm:

Fill in the Blanks

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

_________: calculate area input l, w area <- l * w

Algorithm: ____ the total input a, b total <- a + b

Algorithm: check age _____ age if age >= 18 then

_____ total <- a + b Print total End

Begin result <- x * 2 Print result ___

Spot the Error

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

Question 1

A algorithm: find maximum

B input a, b

C print a

Question 2

A Algorithm find the sum

B input a, b

C total <- a + b

D print total

Question 3

A Algorithm: compute product

B product <- p * q

C input p, q

D print product

Question 4

A Algorithm: show double

B input n

C result <- n * 2

D print result

E Algorithm: check value

Question 5

A Begin

B area <- l * w

C Print area

D Finish

Answer Key

Algorithm Header and Structure

Section A: Quick Questions

A — Algorithm: find the total

B — A colon — Algorithm: name

B — After the Algorithm header, before processing

A — Begin ... End

A — No — each algorithm is a separate independent unit

Section B: Match the Pairs

Algorithm: find the larger input a, b if a > b then print a → A complete VCAA maths pseudocode algorithm: Algorithm header names it, input collects values, then processing and output follow in order

Begin result <- a + b Print result End → A complete VCE Software Development pseudocode algorithm: Begin opens the body, statements are indented inside, and End closes it

The Algorithm: header must be the first line of a VCAA maths pseudocode algorithm and uses a capital A and a colon → Algorithm: compute average input x, y average <- (x + y) / 2 print average

In VCE Software Development pseudocode, Begin opens and End closes the algorithm body; all statements inside are indented → Begin score <- x * 10 Print score End

algorithm: find total input a, b total <- a + b → Wrong — the keyword must have a capital A: `Algorithm: find total`. Lowercase `algorithm` does not follow VCAA convention

Algorithm find the sum input a, b print a + b → Wrong — the Algorithm header requires a colon: `Algorithm: find the sum`. Without the colon the header does not follow VCAA pseudocode convention

Section C: Definitions

Algorithm: — The required header keyword that names a VCAA maths pseudocode algorithm. Written as Algorithm: followed by a descriptive name, it must appear as the first line before input or processing

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

Algorithm: calculate area
input l, w
area <- l * w

Algorithm: find the total
input a, b
total <- a + b

Algorithm: check age
input age
if age >= 18 then

Begin
  total <- a + b
  Print total
End

Begin
  result <- x * 2
  Print result
End

Section E: Spot the Error

A — The keyword `algorithm` must have a capital A in VCAA pseudocode. The correct header is `Algorithm: find maximum`. Line 0 is wrong.

A — The Algorithm header requires a colon after the keyword: `Algorithm: find the sum`. Without the colon the header does not follow VCAA convention. Line 0 is wrong.

B — `product <- p * q` appears before `input p, q`. The variables p and q have not been given values yet. Input must come before any processing that uses those variables. Line 1 is wrong.

E — A second Algorithm header cannot appear inside the body of an existing algorithm. Each named algorithm is a separate independent unit. Line 4 is wrong.

D — In VCE Software Development pseudocode, the closing keyword is `End`, not `Finish`. The body opened with `Begin` must be closed with `End`. Line 3 is wrong.