INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

SCIENCE AND PROGRAMMING

IN C LANGUAGE

BABCOCK UNIVERSITY
COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
 Why COSC101?

 Write out what you want to gain from this

course.
 Write out your plan to achieve this.
 Special Notice

 Attendance is very important

 The first mid-semester test will
take place in the fourth week of
resumption
 The second mid-semester test
will take place in the eighth
week of resumption
 A mini project will be given at
the sixth week of resumption, to
be submitted on the ninth week
How to survive this course

 Work consistently: do not leave your

assignment undone till the last moment, do
it the same day you are given, this will get
you prepared for the next class.
 Ask: when you don’t understand something
ask for it becomes hard to work when you
don’t understand something.
How to survive this course

For students to do well in programming you

must:
 Attend practical classes as well as lectures
and
organized tutorials
 Start practical assignment as soon as you
are given
 Do the tutorial exercises
 Seek help when things get difficult
 Help…..

 If you get help from your friends or tutors

on assignment, make sure you understand
it.
 You can also search the internet to get
resources on learning C programming.
 You may mail me at ……………… if you still
don’t understand what I taught and you
have asked your colleague whom you
think understands.
 You can also meet me at schedule time for
interaction.
 Things to do

 Register your name, phone number, and e-

mail address with the class Representative.
 DEFINING A COMPUTER

 A computer acts based on instructions.

 A computer is not intelligent, because it
cannot analyze a problem on its own.
 It needs a human expert to analyze a
problem and develop a program (a set of
instruction) for the computer.
 The computer can only carry out the
instructions given to it.
 Computers Are Electronic Data-
Processing Devices
 A computer’s four major functions:
 Accepts data
 Processes data into information
 Outputs data or information
 Stores data and information
Thus data is the raw fact which computer
uses. Data can be in form of diagram,
numbers, alphabets, words, video etc.
Three Basic Units of a
Computer
 Defining Computer Science
 Computer Science is
about building
abstract models of
real-world objects or
phenomena, with
the aim of using the
model to solve
problems by
automating the
models through the
use of algorithm,
and implementing
the algorithm in
form of
instructions which
 Why Computer?

 Computers are used for implementation

of codes because they are amazingly
fast at executing algorithms on data.

 Note that we could even use pencil and

paper to work our algorithm but this will
take a longer time and will easily attract
error.
Computer Scientist

 Thus Computer Science

is about solving
problem.
 Therefore Computer
Scientists are thinkers,
they think on how
problems should be
solved.
 Thus abstraction starts
from the mind.
 Computer Scientist

 As you think, you

have a picture of
how a problem
should be solved in
your mind (i.e. an
abstraction).
Thinking then leads
to modeling, this
means you now
make the picture of
the solution in your
mind into a model.
 Computer Scientist

 A computer scientist then automates the

model through the use of algorithm.
 Automation is an act of providing working
solution to a problem through the use of
algorithm.
 Trends of Programming and
Programming languages

 Native language of a computer machine is 1’s and

0’s
 The 1’s and 0’s is called the machine language
 The programming is done through punched cards,
plugged boards, or front panel switches
 Machine language grew from 1’s and 0’s to
hexadecimal (four binary) due to the advent of
terminal such as keyboards, and monitors.
 Machine language is tedious, difficult, and only fits
for small programs.
Trends of Programming and
Programming languages

 For better expression of operations,

assembly language was developed
 Programs in assemble language are
translated into machine language using an
assembler
 Assembly language is still a low-level
language and not fit for large programs
 Assemble language is not portable
 Trends of Programming and
Programming languages

 High level language which is English-like were

developed
 It uses control structures which made program flow to
be easily expressed
 It is portable unlike assembly language
 It needs compiler to first translate to machine-specific
assembly language, and then an assembler to convert
it to machine language which is executable by the
machine.
 Examples of high-level language is Fortran, Algol, Ada
etc.
Trends of Programming and
Programming languages

 Another alternative to compiled code or

compilation process is the use of interpreter.
 An interpreter directly converts an high level
language into low-level language which is an
executable code.
 Another alternative is a virtual machine e.g.
Java virtual machine, which works on top of
the real machine.
Trends of Programming and
Programming languages

 Virtual machine converts high-level language

into an intermediate code called byte code.
 Byte code can be easily interpreted into
executable code than high-level language.
 Compiled code is the fastest, interpreted
code is portable and quick to implements
and test, virtual machine has the advantage
both speed and portability.
 PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS

 Problem solving is
an act of finding a
solution to a
perplexing question.
 problem solving is a
natural way of
providing solution to
a problem
 Problem Solving Process

 There are different ways of solving a problem,

e.g. use of well defined mathematical
principles will help to solve a mathematical
problem, using of tractor on hectares of land
will help to plough the land etc.
 In computing we are interested in solving
problems through the use of computers.
 Thus we ask questions that can be solved using
computer.
 These are questions that do not involve physical
activity or emotions this is because a computer
only acts on instructions given to it, thus it is not
intelligent i.e. garbage in garbage out.
 Problem Solving Process

 Advantage of using computer to solve a

problem is that once the instruction is
written for the computer, the computer
can repeat the solution very quickly and
consistently, again and again, for
different situations or data.
 This means, a computer program for
computation of CGPA of students can do it
accurately for as many students as
possible.
 Steps in Problem Solving Process

 Understanding and analysis of the

problem
 Development of algorithm i.e. devising a
plan
 Coding and implementation
 Deployment and Maintenance
Note: At each stage there should be testing
and proper documentation.
Diagrammatic representation of Problem Solving Process
 Understanding and analysis of the
problem

 To have a proper understanding of the

problem, some analytical questions must
be asked and answered, for example
What input data/information is
available ?
What does it represent ?
What format is it in ?
Is anything missing ?
Do I have everything that I need ?
What output information am I trying to
produce ?
What do I want the result to look like i.e.
result format e.g. text
a picture, a graph … ?
What am I going to have to compute ?
Understanding and analysis of the
problem

These questions will help in:

Identifying the input data

Identifying the output
requirement (results)
Describe the processing
requirements
Determine whether computer
is require to solve the
problem
 Understanding and analysis of the
problem
(Problem decomposition)
 Knowing the input,
process and output
requirement will help to
break the problem
down into smaller sub
problems.
 Each sub problem has
data that can be
computed in order to
process the data.
Lab I: Understanding and Analyzing
the Problem (Example 1)

 Note that the first thing is the problem

statement, for example if we have a problem
statement as given below:
 Example 1
 Calculate the average grade for all
students in a class.
 Lab I: Understanding and Analyzing
the Problem (Example 1)
a.Determine the input data:
What input data/information is available? (score,
total number of students)
What format is it in ? (integer? float? string?
video? picture?)
Is anything missing ? (is there any missing score?)
b. Determine the processing requirement.
Do I have everything that I need ? (sum, total
number of students)
c. What output information am I trying to produce
?
What do I want the result to look like … text
a picture, a graph … ?
 Relating step 1 to
identifying variables
 Based on input data, output data and processing
requirements we identify VARIABLES which will be
subsequently used in programming.
 Variables
 Named memory location
 Their value can change during the execution of a
program
 In ANSI C programs, all variables must be declared
prior to their use. This property makes C to be a
strongly typed language.
 Data format
 Data format represents data types
C has a small family of data types.
 Numeric (int, float, double)
 Character (char)
 User defined (struct,union)
 Lab I

 Identify (stage 1):

 Output requirement and respective formats
 Input requirement and respective formats
 Processing requirement
 Stage 2:
 Identify the sub-problems
 Lab I: Understanding and
Analyzing the Problem (Example 1)
 Output requirement:
 Expected Result: Average grade
 Format: floating-point or double
 Input data:
 Total number of students (format: integer)
 Score per student (format: integer)
 Total score: (format: integer)
 Processing requirement:
 Average grade= total score/total number of
student
 Format: digit
 Problem Decomposotion
(Example 1)
 In the problem at hand there are data like scores,
sum of scores, and number of student in the class.
These data are used in calculating average grade.
 Thus the sub problems are:
 Total score: problem of adding all the students
scores together.
 Total number of students: problem of counting
the number of all students.
 Average grade: problem of finding the average
score per student.
 Average=sum of scores/total no of students
 If no mathematical expression is available you can
formulate one if necessary.
 Lab I: Understanding and Analyzing
the Problem (Example 2)
 Example 2:
The personnel office of Babcock
University is assigned the task of
computing the monthly emolument
of all category of employees of the
institution
The employee taxation is base on
the following constraints;
Lab I: Understanding and Analyzing
the Problem (Example 2)
If basic salary is less than or equal to N5000,
5% of basic salary is deducted as tax
otherwise 8% deducted.
Also 10% of the employee gross pay should
be deducted as part of pension scheme.
It is require that each employee pay slip
should contain employee number, name,
total allowance, tax, basic salary, gross pay
and Net pay
 Lab I: Understanding and Analyzing
the Problem (Example 2)
 Analyse the above problem and identify the
output, input and processing requirements
 Draw the flowchart for the payroll system
 Lab I: Understanding and Analyzing
the Problem (Example 2)
 Input data:
 Employee Number
 Employee Name
 Basic salary
 Housing allowance
 Transport allowance
 Meal subsidy
A class teacher needs to compute the average
score of 20 pupils in eight (8) subjects. Thus,
before developing the application you need to
understand and analyse the problem clearly
stating the input data, output data, and
processing requirements. Also, indicate variable
name and data type of each variable.
 Lab 19/9

 Babbie.com, a game website request for submission of game from

developers. The game is to teach kindergarten on how to detect
their year of birth through their current age and current year. Before
developing the game application, you are to analyse the problem
indicating input data, output data, and processing requirements.
Solution:
Output requirements:
Employee Number
Employee Name
Total allowance
Tax
Contributory Pension
Basic salary
Gross pay
Net pay
 Lab I: Understanding and Analyzing
the Problem (Example 2)
 Processing requirements:
 If Basic salary is <=5000, Tax = 5% of
Basic salary
Else Tax = 8% of basic salary.
 Total allowances = Housing + Transport
+ meal subsidy
 Gross Pay = Basic salary + Total
allowances
 Contributory pension= 10% of Gross Pay
 Net pay = Gross pay – (Tax +
contributory pension)
 Classwork: Problem
Decomposotion (classwork)
 Identify the sub problems in Example 2
 The volume of a cylinder is given by
 V = π r2h
 Analyse the above problem and identify:
 the input, output and processing requirements
 And the sub problems

 The area of a circle is given by the formula

Area = πr2
Analyse the above and identify the output, input and
processing requirements. And identify the sub
problems.
 All programming languages has its uniqueness in
terms of
 Syntax (Grammatical rules of constructing a
statement)
 Semantics (Intended interpretation of a
statement, keywords, or reserved words)