2.1.4 Thinking Logically

• Decision


  A result reached after some consideration
• Decision making in problem solving

  • Many decisions have to be made when solving problems and designing programs
  • Examples include choosing the programming paradigm used and deciding how different information is collected from the user
  • To simplify the decision making process, we limit the solutions we can pick from
  • When deciding on a programming language, you should consider what is suited to the task and your understanding of the language
  • Identifying where decisions need to be made early allows us to gather enough information about our options
• Flow chart


  A decision is shown by a diamond shaped icon. It can have two results, yes or no (true/false)
• Conditions that affect the outcome of a decision

  • What is most effective?
  • What is most convenient?
  • Is this option reasonable?
• Evaluating conditions


  • To make an appropriate decision, you need to evaluate these conditions
  • It is also helpful to order them from most important to least important
• Decisions affecting the flow of a program

  • Decisions are made to determine how different parts of the program are completed
  • Examples: designing a simple runner game to be endless or level-based
  • These decisions produce different routes through the program
  • It is also important to identify where decisions need to be made within the program, and plan out the outcomes of the decision made