Spring 2009 Test #1 Review Page

CSE1320 Section 002 Dr. Tiernan’s section

Topics to be covered on Test #1 with notes from Ch. 1 – 5+ plus other material (including from Chapters 7 and 9 and the software engineering presentation) as covered in class:

Main Topics Test #1 is IN CLASS

Arrays Section 002 – Wed. Mar. 4, 1:00pm

be able to declare an array

know the range of index values used for arrays

understand how arrays are stored in memory

declaring functions with arrays as parameters

passing arrays as parameters

the whole array using array name

a single element of an array

accessing an array and its elements inside the function it has been passed to

using array names as pointers

Multidimensional arrays and pointers

how C really implements multidimensional arrays

declaring multidimensional arrays

initializing arrays

accessing array elements

array notation and pointer arithmetic to access array elements

arrays of pointers

double indirection - pointers to pointers

Pointers

know the rules for creating

know what a pointer contains

know the notation: *, &

understand pointer arithmetic

be able to access the contents of the location the pointer points to

vocabulary – dereference, indirection, addressing operator

passing pointers as parameters

double indirection

array notation with pointers

allocating space with malloc and deallocating with free

Sorting and searching

big O notation and efficiency

linear search

selection sort and bubble sort

swap function

Function declarations and definitions

why ANSI C uses prototype declarations

difference between declaration and definition of a function

Software engineering

Identify/describe the phases of software engineering

Understand the importance of testing

Strategies for testing

Designing test cases

Debugging tips

Be able to discuss various aspects of software quality

Secondary and Related Topics

Data Types

int long short char

float double long double

know the:

meaning of a sign bit

differences between different types of integer data types

differences between different types of floating point data types

sizeof() operator

meaning of type conversions

Variables

know the difference between initialization and assignment

understand how variables are stored and addressed in memory

input with scanf and output with printf

Control Structures

if (conditional) if else nested if else

for (initialization; test; processing)

while (condition)

do while

switch

return

be able to analyze the values after the execution of a loop or selector

Operations

recognize all the operations we have discussed

use the relational and arithmetic operators in writing code segments

Strings

null character/end-of-string marker/’\0’

declaring

reading and writing strings

need for end-of-string markers

%s conversion specifier

difference from character arrays

storing strings in character arrays

common string functions

Functions

know the rules for creating

function prototype declarations

function definitions

know what function is required in any C program

understand the difference between formal parameters and actual parameters

understand pass by value and pass by reference

know how to call a function

Preprocessor directives

know what each of the following do:

#include <stdio.h>

Algorithms

Turning algorithms into functions

Sort and search algorithm efficiency

Style

visually useful indenting

consistent use of braces

Program Development

guidelines for program development and debugging

Test will have some or all of the following characteristics:

multiple choice questions (not more than 10) – typically 1 to 2 points each

short answer questions

coding questions which require either

writing code or

interpreting code or

debugging code

( “code” includes declarations, preprocessor directives, function definitions and

general coding of statements and control structures and I/O commands)

matching questions

fill-in-the-blank questions

Questions generally have their point value listed in braces at the end/side of the question

Every test will have at least 10 points worth of extra credit available

Almost all my tests are open book tests – which means that the answers are not in the book. The book is a reference for you to use in thinking through a problem.

Test grades are assigned on a curve based on the range of actual scores on the test, i.e. the highest score on the test (for example, an 89) will be the top of the curve so all scores will be assigned based on where they fall (100 – 90 A, 89 – 80 B, etc.) AFTER the actual score has been divided by the curve. For example, a high score of 89 would give that student an A because 89/89 100 = 100. On the same test then, a score of 68 would be curved as 68/89*100 = 76 so that student would get a C (rather than a D for the original 68).

The test will make you think not just remember. I write very challenging questions that require you to think all the way through them. A small number of the questions will be memory type questions because some rules must be memorized to make a student an efficient programmer in a language. Most however will require lots of mental effort. Do not get too upset about it – remember EVERYONE is suffering through the same test you are and that everyone’s grade will be curved. Check out my website for a few example test questions from previous semester’s tests. They will give you a sense of how my tests are written.