Notes-for-CAIE

4.2 Algorithm design methods

4.2.1 Decision tables

• describe the purpose of a decision table
• construct a decision table for a given problem with a maximum of three conditions
• simplify a decision table by removing redundancies

Example questions:

s20 43 Q7

• All the blocks in the table should be filled with Y or N.

4.2.2 Jackson Structured Programming (JSP)

• construct a JSP structure diagram showing repetition
• construct a JSP structure diagram showing selection
• write equivalent pseudocode from such structure charts
• construct a JSP structure diagram to describe a data structure
• construct a JSP data structure diagram:
  • using sequence
  • using selection
  • using iteration
• construct a JSP diagram for a program design

JSP diagram example

4.2.3 State-transition diagrams

• use state-transition diagrams to document an algorithm
• use state-transition diagrams to show the behaviour of an object