Chapter 9 - Algorithm Design & Problem Solving

Question 1

what is stepwise refinement?

Answer 1

• process of breaking down a complex problem into smaller, more manageable sub-problems in a logical order
• each sub problem is refined step by step until it is simple enough to be solved with just one subroutine or module
• ensures that the problem can be solved by addressing each part individually, in a structured and efficient way
• it is the process used in top-down design, the strategy used to perform decomposition, which is the general idea of just breaking down large problems into smaller, more manageable problems

Question 2

what are the benefits of stepwise refinement?

Answer 2

• helps developers understand and organise the structure of a program
• makes testing and debugging easier through unit testing of individual subroutines
• encourages code reuse by breaking tasks into reusable components
• supports collaborative development as tasks can be divided between team members

Question 3

how should subroutines made from stepwise refinement be like?

Answer 3

• clear and focused on single task
• simple enough to implement directly
• have no need for further breakdown