2.2.1 Basic Programming Fundamentals

• What is a variable?

  A named value which can change whilst a program is running.
• What is a constant?

  A named value which cannot change whilst a program is running.
• What happens if an attempt is made to change the value of a constant?

  An error will be returned.
• What can data values be stored as?

  Constants or variables.
• What is an operator?

  A symbol which carries out a specific function.
• What are the arithmetic operators?

  Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponentiation, quotient, and modulus.
• What is the symbol for addition?

  +
• What is the symbol for subtraction?


  -
• What is the symbol for multiplication?

  *
• What is the symbol for division?

  /
• What is the symbol for exponentiation?

  **
• What is the symbol for quotient?

  //
• What is the quotient operator used to find?

  The whole number part of a division calculation.
• What is meant by the programming construct, 'sequence'?

  Instructions execute one after another in order.
• What are the three programming constructs?

  Sequence, selection, and iteration.
• What do programming constructs control?

  Program flow and execution.
• What is the symbol for modulus?

  %
• What is the symbol for equal to?

  ==
• What is the symbol for not equal to?

  !=
• What is the symbol for less than?

  <
• What is the symbol for less than or equal to?

  <=
• What is the symbol for greater than?

  >
• What is the symbol for greater than or equal to?


  >=
• What are the comparison operators?

  Equal to, not equal to, less than, less than or equal to, greater than and greater than or equal to.
• What is an input?

  Data or information that is entered into a system or program.
• What is an output?

  The result or response produced by a system or process.
• What are assignments?


  Statements which set a value into a storage location.
• What is meant by the programming construct, ‘iteration’?

  Repetition/looping.
• What is meant by the programming construct, ‘selection’?


  A choice or decision which affects how the program runs.
• What are the three Boolean operators?

  AND, OR and NOT.
• What do FOR loops do?

  Repeat a set number of times.
• What do WHILE loops do?

  Repeat until a condition is broken.
• What do DO UNTIL loops do?

  Repeat until a condition is met.