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CS 1301 (updated test 2)
Note Cards for test two
49
Computer Science
Undergraduate 1
10/17/2012

Additional Computer Science Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Algorithm 
Definition
A finite set of unambiguous instructions performed in a prescribed sequence to achieve a goal.
Term
Aliases
Definition
Multiple variables that contain references to the same object.
Term
Block
Definition

One or more program statements that share the same level of indentation

 

Term
boolean expression
Definition
A python statement that evaluates to either True or False. Typically contains a comparison operator ( <, >, <=, >=, ==, !=) and may contain boolean operators such as AND, OR, or NOT.
Term
Clone
Definition

To create a new object that has the same value as an existing object.

 

Term
compound data type 
Definition
A data type in which the values are made up of elements that are themselves values.
Term
conditional statement 
Definition

A statement that controls the flow of execution depending on some condition. In Python the keywords if, elif, and else are used for conditional statements.

            

Term
Decrement
Definition
to subtract one from a variable
Term
Dictionary
Definition

A collection of key/value pairs that maps from keys to values.

 

Term
Evaluate
Definition
To calculate the value of an expression
Term
exception
Definition

Raised by the runtime system if something goes wrong while the program is running

            

Term
file 
Definition
A named entity, usually stored on a hard drive, floppy disk, or CD-ROM, that contains a stream of characters
Term
Float
Definition

A python data type that stores numbers, unlike integers, they show decimal places.

 

Term
flow of execution
Definition

The order in which statements in a program are executed. Function calls, return statements, conditionals and loops all modify the standard top to bottom flow of execution.

Term
format operator 
Definition

The % operator takes a format string and a tuple of values and generates a string by inserting the data values into the format string at the appropriate locations.

 

Term
Function
Definition

A named sequence (block) of statements that performs some useful operation. Functions may or may not take parameters and may or may not produce a result.

 

Term
global variables 
Definition

Can be seen through a program module, even inside of functions

 

Term
immutable type 
Definition

data type that once you create them, you can not change them.

Term
Increment
Definition

to add one to a variable

 

Term
Int
Definition

means integer, only whole numbers

 

Term
iteration
Definition

To repeat a section of code.

Term
Keyword
Definition

A reserved word that is used by a computer to program, you cant use keywords as variables

Term
local variable 
Definition

A variable that can only be accessed within the function that it was defined in.

 

Term
modulo
Definition

%  operator, that calculates remainder of integer division

 

Term
mutable type
Definition
data types can  be changed after they are created
Term
nested list 
Definition

A list that is itself contained within a list.

                                                

Term
None 
Definition

special value that means nothing, has its own type

 

Term
Operator
Definition

A special symbol that represents a simple computation like adding or subtracting

 

Term
Parameter
Definition

A name used inside a function to refer to the value passed as an argument – The expression in parenthesis of a function

 

Term
pixel 
Definition

Smallest addressable element of a picture.

 

Term
Proprioception
Definition
Sensors that detect internal state. On your scribbler, getName, time and battery voltage are examples of internal sensors. For you, proprioception allows you to know the relative position of parts of your body, which allows you to do things like touch your nose with your eyes closed
Term
recursion
Definition

The process of calling the currently executing function

 

Term
robot
Definition

a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically

Term
runtime error 
Definition

An error raised by python when the program is executing something that goes wrong

Term
semantic error 
Definition

An error that makes a program act differently than intended, does not actually show an error

Term
sequence
Definition

A data type that is made up of elements organized linearly, with each element accessed by an integer index.

 

Term
short circuit evaluation
Definition

When a boolean expression is evaluated the evaluation starts at the left hand expression and proceeds to the right, stopping when it is no longer necessary to evaluate any further to determine the final outcome.

 

Term
Slice
Definition

A copy of part of a sequence specified by a series of indices

Term
syntax error 
Definition

something is wrong with the syntax of the program, like a comma is missing or something

Term
traverse
Definition

Doing something to every element in a sequence

 

Term
type conversion 
Definition

changing the type of a value, using functions like int(),str(),float()

 

Term

variable

 

Definition
name that refers to a value
Term
Linear Search
Definition
N
Term
Binary Search
Definition
Log(N)
Term
Selection Sort
Definition
N^2
Term
Insertion Sort
Definition
N^2
Term
Bubble Sort
Definition
N^2
Term
Merge Sort
Definition
N*Log(N)
Term
Quick Sort
Definition
N*Log(N) (average), N^2 (maximum)
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