Chapter 7, Problem 45E

Program Plan Intro

Computer problem-solving model:

The phases present in the computer problem-solving process is given below:

• First phase: Analysis and specification phase
  • In this phase, analysis defines the problem and specification means identifying the problem that users trying to solve it.
  • The output of this phase defines the problem statement.
• Second phase: Algorithm development phase
  • This phase develops a logical sequence of steps which are used to solve a problem.
  • In this phase, testing algorithm is used to check whether the given solution is able to solve the problem or not using the given sequence of steps.
  • The output comes from this phase is make a general solution to the problems that are specified in the analysis and specification phase.
• Third phase: Implementation phase
  • This phase is used to convert the algorithm that is provided by second phase into a programming language.
  • The output of this phase is a working computer program that implements the algorithm that is given by second phase.
• Fourth phase: Maintenance phase
  • This phase is used to maintain the program.
    • User needs to modify the program if any error occurs in the code.
    • If error or modifications occur in the program, the given problem is sent back to first, second or third phase based on the modification.
      • The output is not produced from this phase.

Polya’s problem-solving model:

• Understanding the problem
  • Understand the complexity to solve the problem. First, the user needs to identify the information that are provided by the given problem and then identify the required answer for that problem.
• Devising a plan
  • Formulate a solution plan to solve the problem. Here, the user needs to find a connection between the data of problem and the needed answer provided by the given problem.
• Carrying out the plan
  • Implement the solution to solve the problem.
• Looking Back
  • Check the obtained solution.