Problem Solving and Programming Concepts, Essay Example

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to give answers to problem solving questions in the area of programming. Effective programming requires exceptional problem solving abilities. Using information learned in this course and through various credible sources, I will answer each question to the very best of my ability.

Problem solving and programming concepts

Use the Internet and other resources to review and understand Boolean logic and to discuss the following:

• Explain how Boolean logic is used in computer programming.
• Give a short example using and and or.  Explain how they are used.
• Did you find other Boolean logic in addition to these 2 operators? Explain.

Answer: Boolean logic is the basic, bare-bones structure of programming (Research Guides: Boolean Logic). It defines something as either true or false (Tutorial Boolean Logic). Boolean logic is often used when defining variables. For example, the variable AudioPlay = False could tell music not to play on a particular web page. AND and OR are generally used as operators when conducting search through search engines that understand Boolean logic, such as Google. For example, if one wanted to search for information about two different types of bears, one could type as a search query “grizzly bears AND polar bears” to bring up results that contain information on both bear species. If one only wanted to find one or the other of something, they might type as a search query “anthropology OR the study of humanity”. In addition to AND and OR, one can use the operator NOT. NOT can be used if you’d like to exclude something from a search as all words preceding NOT will be eliminated from the search results (Boolean Operators).

An employee came in to work and clocked in at morningIn, clocked out at noonout for lunch.  Clocked back in at noonIn, Clocked out a NoonOut for lunch, clocked back in at NoonIn, and clocked out to go home at NightOut (all in minutes since midnight).  Set up equations to calculate the number of hours and the number or minutes the employee worked for the day.  (You will develop two equations.)

Answer: MorningHours = NoonOut – MorningIn

DayHours = NoonOut – NoonIn

EveningHours = NightOut – NoonIn

TotalHours = MorningHours + DayHours + EveningHours

Steve Thompson bought and charged an electric saw on Date1 and made the first payment on Date2.  Write and equation to calculate how many days (Days) elapsed between the two dates.

Answer: Days = Date2 – Date1

Eureka Lumber Company gives a 2% discount if the remaining balance is paid within 10 days of purchase. Write a logical expression to verify whether a customer qualifies for this discount.  Use the following variable names:

BuyingDate:  date the customer purchased the merchandise

PaidDate:  date the customer made the final payment

Answer: BuyingDate = 0

PaidDate = 10

A part-time employee worked 20 hours in the first week and 15 hours in the second week of a two-week pay period.  He is paid a weekly salary based on a 40 hour week.  What is his full-time equivalent for the two weeks based on a 40-hour week?  (i.e., what percentage of full time did he work?) Write a general equation that could be used to express and store the full-time equitant of any hours worked per week.

Answer: Full Time = Week1: 50%

Week2:  27%Roger would like to know the average of his test scores.  Write an equation that would calculate the average given five test scores.  Write the equation with and with using a function.

Answer: TestScoreSum = TestScore1 + TestScore2 + TestScore3 + TestScore4 + TestScore5

AverageTestScore = TestScoreSum/5

References

Boolean Operators  . (n.d.). Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from http://knowledgecenter.unr.edu/help/using/booltips.aspx

Research Guides: Boolean Logic. (n.d.). Ithaca College Library. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from http://www.ithacalibrary.com/sp/subjects/guide.php?subject=boolean

Tutorial – Boolean Logic. (n.d.). Tutorial – Controlling The Real World With Computers. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from http://www.learn-c.com/boolean.htm