Algorithms and Programming Flashcards

A function receives a list of numbers and returns their average. If the list is empty, the function crashes. What is this an example of?

Answer: Failing to handle an edge case

An empty list is an edge case — a boundary condition the programmer failed to anticipate and handle gracefully.

Which of the following correctly describes the difference between a parameter and an argument?

Answer: A parameter is a variable in the procedure definition; an argument is the value passed when calling it

Parameters are placeholder variables defined in the procedure header; arguments are the actual values supplied when the procedure is called.

What does it mean for an algorithm to run in polynomial time?

Answer: The number of steps grows as a polynomial function of the input size

Polynomial time means the number of operations is bounded by a polynomial expression (like n, n², n³) in terms of the input size n.

A robot moves forward, turns right, and repeats this sequence 4 times. What shape does its path form?

Answer: Square

Repeating 'move forward, turn right 90°' four times traces a square path.

Which of the following is the best reason to use a library or API in a program?

Answer: To reuse existing, tested code and avoid reimplementing common functionality

Libraries and APIs provide reusable, pre-tested functionality so programmers don't need to rewrite common operations from scratch.

Consider this pseudocode: x ← 10 IF x > 5 THEN x ← x + 1 ELSE x ← x - 1 What is the final value of x?

Answer: 11

Since 10 > 5 is TRUE, the THEN branch executes: x becomes 10 + 1 = 11.

In AP CSP pseudocode, what is the purpose of the APPEND procedure when working with lists?

Answer: It adds a new element to the end of a list

APPEND(list, value) adds the specified value to the end of the list, increasing its length by one.