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HSC Stuff => HSC Technology Stuff => HSC Subjects + Help => HSC Software Design and Development => Topic started by: Opengangs on October 29, 2017, 02:30:54 pm

Title: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Opengangs on October 29, 2017, 02:30:54 pm
(https://i.imgur.com/w74ESYZ.png)

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Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: cthulu on July 22, 2018, 12:10:42 pm
Just ran into a question which I'm unsure about.

The question is to create a structure chart for the following algorithms:

(https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/37583676_662060594146366_8092768483693035520_n.png?_nc_cat=0&oh=5717e1648ade6d2cf8610ef55b0b1236&oe=5BC7F68C)

I did the question however in the solutions I noticed something was mixed up. They used parameters as black filled circles and flags as unfilled circles. Can anyone reaffirm that the solutions are incorrect?

(https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/37638926_662060927479666_5642085291628953600_n.png?_nc_cat=0&oh=8d233fa847cec11f3de85e4eb1cf59cb&oe=5BC78DFA)

Thanks!
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Opengangs on July 22, 2018, 06:01:33 pm
Just ran into a question which I'm unsure about.

The question is to create a structure chart for the following algorithms:

(https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/37583676_662060594146366_8092768483693035520_n.png?_nc_cat=0&oh=5717e1648ade6d2cf8610ef55b0b1236&oe=5BC7F68C)

I did the question however in the solutions I noticed something was mixed up. They used parameters as black filled circles and flags as unfilled circles. Can anyone reaffirm that the solutions are incorrect?

(https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/37638926_662060927479666_5642085291628953600_n.png?_nc_cat=0&oh=8d233fa847cec11f3de85e4eb1cf59cb&oe=5BC78DFA)

Thanks!
Hey, cthulu.

You're right -- black/closed circles represent control variables while open/white circles represent data being passed across modules (ie. parameters)! So, the solutions have the variables the wrong way around! Hope that helps :)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: cthulu on July 22, 2018, 07:41:02 pm
Hey, cthulu.

You're right -- black/closed circles represent control variables while open/white circles represent data being passed across modules (ie. parameters)! So, the solutions have the variables the wrong way around! Hope that helps :)

Thank you!

Another question, for a sequential file if we know the structure of the file such as if it is an array of records, can we read the data like:
Read Record(Index).Field

I saw it in a trials question, example below:

(https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-0/p280x280/37655409_662128714139554_3874088117631713280_n.png?_nc_cat=0&oh=2d5ad36c7c601c72cb9d03f5b8131eb9&oe=5C13B0BE)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Opengangs on July 22, 2018, 09:30:53 pm
Thank you!

Another question, for a sequential file if we know the structure of the file such as if it is an array of records, can we read the data like:
Read Record(Index).Field

I saw it in a trials question, example below:

(https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-0/p280x280/37655409_662128714139554_3874088117631713280_n.png?_nc_cat=0&oh=2d5ad36c7c601c72cb9d03f5b8131eb9&oe=5C13B0BE)
Yep!
In the HSC, we tend to assume that a file can be read as if it's an array of records unless specified otherwise. So we can extract data like an array of records. ;D
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: shaner on August 08, 2018, 12:27:46 pm
I was doing the HSC 2014 MC and didn't know how to address Q19 and 20. I've attached them as images.
The answers are both D. Can anybody help me out?

Thanks.
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: DrDusk on August 09, 2018, 09:38:40 pm
For question 20 we can already clearly eliminate bubble sort as it goes through the WHOLE array each pass and so at least one element would have switched positions. Similarly we can eliminate the selection sort as it is a linear search through the whole array each pass and so at least one element would be changed. Therefore it must be a insertion sort.
Now since none of the elements have changed positions, we can say that the insertion sort is aiming to arrange the elements into descending order. If this wasn't the case then 2 would have been switched to be before 4 after the first pass.
So in the second pass the sort moves on to the 8 and determines that it is larger than the 4 and so places it before the 4, thus giving (D)

Sorry if this was too much, I don't know which parts you don't understand :)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: cthulu on October 05, 2018, 09:55:29 pm
Identify TWO important project management techniques. For each technique you have identified, discuss its importance in ensuring the successful completion of a software development project.

Is this just Gantt chart and Log book?
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: JTrudeau on October 06, 2018, 11:12:32 am
Identify TWO important project management techniques. For each technique you have identified, discuss its importance in ensuring the successful completion of a software development project.

Is this just Gantt chart and Log book?

Yup! Those are the two main ones :)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: SpanishPear on October 12, 2018, 02:26:03 pm
Hello!

I was doing a 2014 HSC question yesterday, and I was doing this question.
Now the question asks "Write an algorithm to show the order in which the chapter versions are displayed,
based on the reader’s input."
Now i clearly thought the focus was on showing the order, and thats all they wanted, a list containing the path that the user took or something along that lines.
But the marking criteria says you in order to get 4/4 you must:

 Provides a substantially correct algorithm that incorporates the following
features:
– A suitable data structure
– A suitable loop
– Output of chapter text
– Output of options
– Input of user choice
– Suitable determination of next chapter based on user choice

The issue with this is, for my response to what i interpreted the quetsion to be asking, i did not output the chapter text or output the the options
Thus i would have gotten a 3/4 which seems unfair given i answered what i thought the quetstion asking?
not sure if im making sense here....
I guess what I'm asking is, am i wrong? or is the marking criteria wrong? ( there's been a few other inconsistencies in the marking criteria so far)
TLDR I disagree with the marking criteria 
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: JTrudeau on October 17, 2018, 11:38:12 am
The issue with this is, for my response to what i interpreted the quetsion to be asking, i did not output the chapter text or output the the options
Thus i would have gotten a 3/4 which seems unfair given i answered what i thought the quetstion asking?
not sure if im making sense here....
I guess what I'm asking is, am i wrong? or is the marking criteria wrong? ( there's been a few other inconsistencies in the marking criteria so far)
TLDR I disagree with the marking criteria 

Hey there! This is definitely one of those weird questions that could have been written so much better (I've done this one at least three times before I got the hang of it).

I suppose in order for the reader to pick the version they want, the program has to print the chapter text. Or perhaps the question was meant to be interpreted as "Show the order in which the ChapterVersions (as in, the various versions of the chapter itself) are displayed".

It's a funky way of writing it, but if this kind of things happens again, take a look at the mark allocation-- 4+ marks suggest that you may need to put in more legwork than just a list of user choices, and it's better to be safe than sorry :)

Hope this helps!
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: SpanishPear on October 22, 2018, 01:17:17 pm
Awesome, thanks!!
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: SpanishPear on October 29, 2018, 10:25:44 am
Hey!
In Pseudocode is it okay to have mutliple end statements?
My gut says no and i should just stop being lazy and implement some sort of validation but thought i'd check instead :)

IE If i was trying to check if all numbers in an array(lets call it array1 for the lols) were even and I wanted to be lazy:

BEGIN lazyeven
    let L be length of array1
    FOR i = 1 TO L STEP 1
         IF array(l) modulo 2 is not 0 THEN
               Display "Every item in the array is not even!!"
               END lazyeven
         END IF
    NEXT i
    Display "every item in the array is even!!"
END lazyeven
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: cthulu on October 29, 2018, 12:06:31 pm
Hey!
In Pseudocode is it okay to have mutliple end statements?
My gut says no and i should just stop being lazy and implement some sort of validation but thought i'd check instead :)

IE If i was trying to check if all numbers in an array(lets call it array1 for the lols) were even and I wanted to be lazy:

BEGIN lazyeven
    let L be length of array1
    FOR i = 1 TO L STEP 1
         IF array(l) modulo 2 is not 0 THEN
               Display "Every item in the array is not even!!"
               END lazyeven
         END IF
    NEXT i
    Display "every item in the array is even!!"
END lazyeven

You can use BREAK or RETURN to exit early.
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: cthulu on October 31, 2018, 06:45:19 pm
Hey to all that are doing programming paradigms, there is a dotpoint in the syllabus:
 - Simplifying the development and testing of some larger software products

The textbook did not really cover this and am wondering what how programming paradigms can do this. I know that OOP can due to the development of self-contained modules of code that can be independently tested but what about logic or imperative paradigm.

Thanks!

Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: DrDusk on October 31, 2018, 06:51:20 pm
Hey!
In Pseudocode is it okay to have mutliple end statements?
My gut says no and i should just stop being lazy and implement some sort of validation but thought i'd check instead :)

IE If i was trying to check if all numbers in an array(lets call it array1 for the lols) were even and I wanted to be lazy:

BEGIN lazyeven
    let L be length of array1
    FOR i = 1 TO L STEP 1
         IF array(l) modulo 2 is not 0 THEN
               Display "Every item in the array is not even!!"
               END lazyeven
         END IF
    NEXT i
    Display "every item in the array is even!!"
END lazyeven

In that case it would be much better to use a Pretest loop instead of a counting loop. Something like WHILE even = true.
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: DrDusk on October 31, 2018, 06:55:48 pm
Hey to all that are doing programming paradigms, there is a dotpoint in the syllabus:
 - Simplifying the development and testing of some larger software products

The textbook did not really cover this and am wondering what how programming paradigms can do this. I know that OOP can due to the development of self-contained modules of code that can be independently tested but what about logic or imperative paradigm.

Thanks!

For logic paradigm it takes away the need to specify every single process(Heuristics) as opposed to imperative, cutting down on development time.
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: SpanishPear on November 02, 2018, 08:38:48 am
You can use BREAK or RETURN to exit early.

are BREAK and RETURN allowed in pseudocode though? Like I know you can do it in programming, but I've been told that there are only a set amount of things you can do in pseudocode, i havent seen BREAK or RETURN in any sample NESA answers either hence i was hoping someone would have an answer rip
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: JTrudeau on November 02, 2018, 09:42:05 am
are BREAK and RETURN allowed in pseudocode though? Like I know you can do it in programming, but I've been told that there are only a set amount of things you can do in pseudocode, i havent seen BREAK or RETURN in any sample NESA answers either hence i was hoping someone would have an answer rip

Usually you don’t use BREAK or RETURN.
For the example pseudo code you gave before, I would replace the first END statement with “i = L + 1”
That way when they go to increment i, it already falls outside the loop’s bounds and so they automatically break :)

Good luck today!!
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: SpanishPear on November 02, 2018, 09:56:41 am
Oh!
I hadnt even thought of doing that!
I completely forgot you could alter the counter value!!
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: DrDusk on January 09, 2019, 05:35:47 am
Hi Opengangs and JTrudeau,

I just want to say thank you for helping me through my HSC for Software Design and Development!

Really it helped me a lot and allowed me to achieve a mark of 95 which I didn't think I would ever get, especially since up to the day before the HSC I was so utterly confused about the option topic haha

So a big THANK YOU from my part! :)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: liam.berkovsky on April 27, 2019, 03:22:25 pm
Hey there, I have this question that I am finding a bit hard and wouldn't mind some help or how to start the question thanks!

Splashes is a family owned business which provides swimming lessons for all ages, they are currently using a paper-based system to manage all their clients, instructors, bookings and payments

An example of a typical day:

1. 4, 30 minutes sessions of 4 levels
2. A client arrives and informs them of the child's name and the receptionist looks for the child's card/file from a filing system which is then manually ticked off against the correct date to confirm attendance and payment.
3. The client pays a fee of $15
4. If the child is absent a cross is placed next to their name
5. If the child is absent they are still required to pay the $15 and book a catch-up lesson(s)

A) Construct a system flowchart for the paper-based system
B) Recommend with justification an appropriate software approach
C) Create a DFD1 for the future computer-based system

Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: saloni.aphale on April 27, 2019, 08:34:11 pm
How does one do well in software, as it is an extremely hard subject.


Especially pseudocode. Does anyone have tips on how to learn pseudocode and be really good at it ?

Thank you.
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: DrDusk on April 27, 2019, 10:43:15 pm
How does one do well in software, as it is an extremely hard subject.


Especially pseudocode. Does anyone have tips on how to learn pseudocode and be really good at it ?

Thank you.

I got full marks for all the algorithms in my HSC, so what I say is legit :)
Basically I found the only way to get really good at Pseudocode is by constantly doing questions, try and understand the solution the markers notes give and come back to the question like a month later and try it again.
You also really want to do the algorithms from the Independent paper as they are much harder than the HSC which is very good preparation. (If you dont have them drop an email and I can send them)

For my HSC I did every algorithm question from 2000 to 2017 probably 3-4 times, some maybe even more, plus the questions from the Independent paper like 2-3 times.

Now I'm not saying doing exactly that much will get you a really high mark, because I started out really bad at algorithms, IIRC I almost got none of them right in my year 11 yearly, so you may need less practice. All this also applies to your charts and diagrams.

For the theory just memorize the Sam Davis textbook completely and regurgitate it in the exam. I'm living proof that it works lol
But the point is start, and start now!


 
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: saloni.aphale on May 05, 2019, 01:14:00 pm
Hi,

i am currently doing my software major and i have come across this requirement:

3.   Develop stubs needed to represent menu options and command buttons
4.   Test the interface

What exactly is a stub and how do you document it, and how do you show that you have tested the interface.

thank you.
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: liam.berkovsky on May 21, 2019, 06:49:52 pm
How should I be preparing and studying for upcoming HSC and Trials?

Also is this a subject where I should be making study notes? I have made notes on the first two chapters of the Samuel Davis textbook but they are very long and time-consuming

Personally, my best areas are questions relating to algorithms, I sometimes struggle with diagrams and those long difficult short answer questions

Thanks!!
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: DrDusk on May 21, 2019, 07:29:14 pm
How should I be preparing and studying for upcoming HSC and Trials?

Also is this a subject where I should be making study notes? I have made notes on the first two chapters of the Samuel Davis textbook but they are very long and time-consuming

Personally, my best areas are questions relating to algorithms, I sometimes struggle with diagrams and those long difficult short answer questions

Thanks!!

Don't bother making notes, it is not necessary. What I would suggest is hammer out hard algorithms and chart questions, especially ones from Independent trials. If you don't have them I can email them to you. Then about say 2-3 weeks before your trial you want to start memorizing the Sam Davis textbook.

You need to be really selective with what to memorize because the Sam D textbook sometimes has useless information, so in each chapter look at each sub-heading memorize the relevant lines relating to:
Purpose
Effect on society/developer etc
Advantages & Disadvantages


When you feel like you've memorized some relevant sections, go on a website called hscsearch.com which was actually developed by my SDD teacher. Type in a keyword and you should get questions relevant to what you have memorized.

The best way for most to understand theory is probably what I mentioned above but personally I did something different, and this is slightly dodgy. I just went through each paper starting from 2001 to 2017 and looked at each short answer question, found its relevant section in the textbook, and memorized the sample answer and what the textbook said.

If your best area is questions relating to algorithms then you've already got all the hard stuff nailed down.
What do you mean when you say long difficult short answer questions? give me an example
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Coolmate on May 23, 2019, 06:30:38 pm
Hi everyone,

I'm in year 11 and I have a test coming up on content for CH 4 : Defining and Understanding the Problem Designing and Planning the Solution (Samuel Davis book) Systems Modelling Tools, Representation of integers in Decimal, Binary, Hexadecimal formats, Data Types, Data Structures and Structured Algorithms. Does anyone have any past advice or helpful tips on what the crucial/ main elements of each are so I can study effectively?

Cheers ;)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: DrDusk on May 24, 2019, 01:33:25 am
Hi everyone,

I'm in year 11 and I have a test coming up on content for CH 4 : Defining and Understanding the Problem Designing and Planning the Solution (Samuel Davis book) Systems Modelling Tools, Representation of integers in Decimal, Binary, Hexadecimal formats, Data Types, Data Structures and Structured Algorithms. Does anyone have any past advice or helpful tips on what the crucial/ main elements of each are so I can study effectively?

Cheers ;)

That's so weird how your test is just based on one chapter..
System Modelling tools:
Know their brief definitions, how they convey the software/system and their purpose like how they help the developer etc 
Know how to draw each of them for a given scenario. Most likely you will be asked a DFD/Context Diagram, and Structure chart, so make sure you pay most attention to them. System flowcharts and IPO's aren't asked as much but make sure you can draw them as well.
A very common question is asking you to convert code to the structure chart/flowchart and vice versa, especially in the MC
 
Representation of integers:
This parts very basic, just know whatever the textbook says. Quite straightforward

Formats, Data Types, Data Structures
Data types is quite straightforward, just know them all and the different types of data they represent. E.g Double can contain an int but they are different.
Data structures is the same, know them and what type of data each can store, noting restrictions such as an array which can only have one data type. Know why one would be favourable over another etc. A very common type of question would be where they give you a scenario and tell you to recommend a data structure - there was one in the 2018 HSC q28! Make sure you know how to use them properly in writing algorithms.
Know your control structures as those are common MC questions

Structured algorithms
This section is quite basic in the prelim course but gets really difficult in the HSC course. You may have to reproduce these algorithms in an exam so make sure you have them memorised. However it would be more helpful if you understand how they work so you can reproduce one without the need to memorise.
A very common question would be they give you an algorithm and ask you to identify the mistakes and correct them, so its important for you to be able to analyse code for errors.

If you need help with a question just post it up here and I'll get to you.
Other than that practise your algorithm writing skills and good luck! :)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: saloni.aphale on May 25, 2019, 09:03:00 am
Hi,


could someone please email harder chart and algorithm questions please. Thank you
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Coolmate on May 25, 2019, 11:43:00 am
That's so weird how your test is just based on one chapter..
System Modelling tools:
Know their brief definitions, how they convey the software/system and their purpose like how they help the developer etc 
Know how to draw each of them for a given scenario. Most likely you will be asked a DFD/Context Diagram, and Structure chart, so make sure you pay most attention to them. System flowcharts and IPO's aren't asked as much but make sure you can draw them as well.
A very common question is asking you to convert code to the structure chart/flowchart and vice versa, especially in the MC
 
Representation of integers:
This parts very basic, just know whatever the textbook says. Quite straightforward

Formats, Data Types, Data Structures
Data types is quite straightforward, just know them all and the different types of data they represent. E.g Double can contain an int but they are different.
Data structures is the same, know them and what type of data each can store, noting restrictions such as an array which can only have one data type. Know why one would be favourable over another etc. A very common type of question would be where they give you a scenario and tell you to recommend a data structure - there was one in the 2018 HSC q28! Make sure you know how to use them properly in writing algorithms.
Know your control structures as those are common MC questions

Structured algorithms
This section is quite basic in the prelim course but gets really difficult in the HSC course. You may have to reproduce these algorithms in an exam so make sure you have them memorised. However it would be more helpful if you understand how they work so you can reproduce one without the need to memorise.
A very common question would be they give you an algorithm and ask you to identify the mistakes and correct them, so its important for you to be able to analyse code for errors.

If you need help with a question just post it up here and I'll get to you.
Other than that practise your algorithm writing skills and good luck! :)

Thankyou Dr Dusk for the help!
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Coolmate on May 26, 2019, 09:21:44 pm
Hi everyone,

Would someone please be able to explain to me how you would be able to convert hexadecimal into decimal numbers and vice versa? and also I am confused with how desk checks work.

Thanks! ;)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: DrDusk on May 26, 2019, 10:53:45 pm
Hi everyone,

Would someone please be able to explain to me how you would be able to convert hexadecimal into decimal numbers and vice versa? and also I am confused with how desk checks work.

Thanks! ;)
There's a special technique for converting hexadecimal to decimal but I just can't remember it right now. Try and search for it, maybe someone else on here knows it. Sorry about that.

Now a desk check is just a manual way of checking the output of your algorithm. You should create a table with each variable with each column representing one variable. Then from top to bottom just write down the value of each of the variables one by one.

I want you to try this question that i have attached so I know where your problem lies. NOTE: This is a really basic exercise

Show us how you desk check
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: liam.berkovsky on May 28, 2019, 07:16:15 pm
Hi everyone,

Would someone please be able to explain to me how you would be able to convert hexadecimal into decimal numbers and vice versa? and also I am confused with how desk checks work.

Thanks! ;)


Easier to just show you this rather than to try and explain it, this channel should have all the other ones such as binary as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgVc1Tl-JDA

Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Coolmate on May 28, 2019, 08:58:23 pm

Easier to just show you this rather than to try and explain it, this channel should have all the other ones such as binary as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgVc1Tl-JDA

Oh! Ok I understand how to do it now, thanks Liam  ;D👍
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Coolmate on August 05, 2019, 10:20:09 am
Hi everyone!

I have a major project due soon (Basketball Sports Aide) and I am having trouble with this part of it (The information is attached in an image). I am using Visual Basic and I am confused at how I am able to use parallel arrays and have the coach to be able to write information onto the file and then rewrite this back to the file? ???

Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks, Coolmate  :D
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: RuiAce on August 05, 2019, 10:56:30 am
Hi everyone,

Would someone please be able to explain to me how you would be able to convert hexadecimal into decimal numbers and vice versa? and also I am confused with how desk checks work.

Thanks! ;)
There's a special technique for converting hexadecimal to decimal but I just can't remember it right now. Try and search for it, maybe someone else on here knows it. Sorry about that.

Now a desk check is just a manual way of checking the output of your algorithm. You should create a table with each variable with each column representing one variable. Then from top to bottom just write down the value of each of the variables one by one.

I want you to try this question that i have attached so I know where your problem lies. NOTE: This is a really basic exercise

Show us how you desk check

I just randomly happened to see this. (Probably already figured out by now but I'll address the HEX thing anyway.)

Base 10 works through powers of 10. If I have a number, say, 92310, what I mean is \((9\times 10^2) + (2\times 10^1) + (3\times 10^0)\).

Base 16 works through powers of 16. Of course, there are a few subtleties in that
110 = 116
210 = 216
310 = 316
410 = 416
510 = 516
610 = 616
710 = 716
810 = 816
910 = 916
1010 = A16
1110 = B16
1210 = C16
1310 = D16
1410 = E16
1510 = F16

So if I have a base 16 number, say, A97E16, what I am really saying is \( (10\times 16^3) +( 9\times 16^2) +( 7\times 16^1) + (14\times 16^0)\).

(Once the expression is written out, you can just grab a calculator to do it for you.)

Trying to go the other way though (DEC to HEX) is nastier.
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: DrDusk on August 05, 2019, 06:37:02 pm
Hi everyone!

I have a major project due soon (Basketball Sports Aide) and I am having trouble with this part of it (The information is attached in an image). I am using Visual Basic and I am confused at how I am able to use parallel arrays and have the coach to be able to write information onto the file and then rewrite this back to the file? ???

Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks, Coolmate  :D

Your best friend is Stack overflow for SDD.
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Coolmate on August 05, 2019, 07:08:33 pm
I just randomly happened to see this. (Probably already figured out by now but I'll address the HEX thing anyway.)

Base 10 works through powers of 10. If I have a number, say, 92310, what I mean is \((9\times 10^2) + (2\times 10^1) + (3\times 10^0)\).

Base 16 works through powers of 16. Of course, there are a few subtleties in that
110 = 116
210 = 216
310 = 316
410 = 416
510 = 516
610 = 616
710 = 716
810 = 816
910 = 916
1010 = A16
1110 = B16
1210 = C16
1310 = D16
1410 = E16
1510 = F16

So if I have a base 16 number, say, A97E16, what I am really saying is \( (10\times 16^3) +( 9\times 16^2) +( 7\times 16^1) + (14\times 16^0)\).

(Once the expression is written out, you can just grab a calculator to do it for you.)

Trying to go the other way though (DEC to HEX) is nastier.

Awesome, cheers Rui! This will help me a lot in my prelims  8)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Coolmate on August 05, 2019, 07:09:44 pm
Your best friend is Stack overflow for SDD.

Yes, so true! I didn't think about Stack. Cheers DrDusk!  8)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: haidara on October 17, 2019, 12:49:37 pm
Group Work Inquiry
Can you work in groups for your major? If so, how does the marking work and are there any requirements when working in groups?  :-\
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: DrDusk on October 17, 2019, 01:36:43 pm
Group Work Inquiry
Can you work in groups for your major? If so, how does the marking work and are there any requirements when working in groups?  :-\
Well doesn't that depend on the way the teacher sets the project?

However I have personally never seen any teacher make the major group based, so the likely hood of it being group based is quite low.
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: gubby1707 on October 23, 2019, 11:49:15 am
Hi! so i have done software notes and i really struggle with understanding the algorithms in multiple choice including when a variable refers to a position or when it refers to a value. If there are any tips for that, that would be so great! Also could someone please email me at [email protected] for the independent papers asap!

Thank u
Y12 2019
Software Design & Development
Business Studies
Mathematics Standard 2
Industrial Technology - Multimedia
English (Standard)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: DrDusk on October 23, 2019, 01:11:14 pm
Hi! so i have done software notes and i really struggle with understanding the algorithms in multiple choice including when a variable refers to a position or when it refers to a value. If there are any tips for that, that would be so great! Also could someone please email me at [email protected] for the independent papers asap!

Thank u
Y12 2019
Software Design & Development
Business Studies
Mathematics Standard 2
Industrial Technology - Multimedia
English (Standard)
Well I mean the only way to improve on them is by doing a lot of them. The exam is tomorrow so there's not much you can do really to improve on those so quickly but you can still get better. Usually they only ask one or two of them in the mc.

You can just desk check it as well because usually it's quite a small algorithm with not many variables. It will waste more time than being able to do it in your head but at least you'll get the right answer.

Good luck for tomorrow! =)
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: noipali on July 17, 2021, 09:18:14 am
What is the best way to finding logic errors in algorithms?
Also, are there any places to find preliminary papers? I have looked everywhere and there seems to be nothing
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Justin_L on July 17, 2021, 04:58:39 pm
What is the best way to finding logic errors in algorithms?
Also, are there any places to find preliminary papers? I have looked everywhere and there seems to be nothing

Logic errors are a tough one - the first issue is even knowing that a logic error exists. there's no certain way to find a logic error without testing the code or desk checking every single step of the algorithm.

That being said, if you wrote the algorithm yourself, you should have a good idea of what the expected outputs are and where the program is diverging, which narrows down the scope of an error. You can then check the parts where the relevant variable is used see whether it's behaving as expected.

If it's an exam question, you might not have that luxury and you'll be limited to whatever information you're given. In that case, you should get a clear idea of what the algorithm is doing and how you expect it to behave. You can then do a quick desk check to confirm your theories, which should either confirm or deny that a logic error exists. The fact that something works is also valuable information, since it tells you that the error isn't in that part of the algorithm.

The most common error you'll see by far is an off by one error, where a counter or index is off by one. These often occur due to variables being initialized at 1 or 0, and when the wrong comparison operator (> versus >=) is used, as well as when accessing arrays. (array[1] actually refers to the second element of an array when indexed from 0). Check for these first, then move onto more through debugging methods. Over time as you write more algorithms, you'll also naturally gain a sense for where these logic errors commonly happen as you develop as a programmer.

Hope this helps!  :)

Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: smokeybatscore on September 30, 2021, 07:00:25 pm
A quick question, I'm confused as to what exactly we will be assessed upon in our HSC for SDD. My trials had content from the preliminary syllabus (actual questions, not assumed knowledge), is that the case for HSC as well?
Title: Re: HSC Software Design and Development Question Thread
Post by: Justin_L on October 01, 2021, 11:24:22 pm
A quick question, I'm confused as to what exactly we will be assessed upon in our HSC for SDD. My trials had content from the preliminary syllabus (actual questions, not assumed knowledge), is that the case for HSC as well?

For the HSC, no - you'll only be assessed on content in the HSC syllabus. However, the SDD course is one particular course that has a large amount of overlap between prelim and HSC content. Particularly for skills such as pseudocode and EBNF, you'll be first introduced to them in the prelim course and expected to develop and use them over the HSC course as well.

In terms of pure content, you may also find that topics such as the software development lifecycle and different development approaches (eg. Prototyping, End User, Waterfall, Agile) have significant overlap between the prelim and HSC components. While you won't be tested on prelim content directly, it can often feel like you are if you're getting questions on these topics.

tldr; is that you'll only ever be assessed on what's on the HSC syllabus for the HSC

Hope this helps!