Revise Computingrevisecomputing.co.uk
Free student revisionSee questionsFor schoolsSchool enquiry
Free revisionSee questionsFor schoolsSchool enquiry
Knowledge/A Level/H446/02 Algorithms and programming/Computational Methods/Use of abstraction

Use of abstraction

Use of abstraction.

2.2.2 Computational Methods

Computational Methods — Note 5 of 6

Candidates need to be able to use abstraction to design a solution to a problem described in a scenario.

What you need to know

Abstraction is used in computational methods to remove unnecessary detail so that a problem can be modelled and solved efficiently. Choosing the right level of abstraction is essential for a workable solution.

What to know

  • Abstraction removes details that are not relevant to solving the problem, leaving a simpler model.
  • The model can then be represented in a program using suitable data structures, such as a graph for a map or a 2D array for a board.
  • Too much abstraction can make the model inaccurate; too little makes it too complex or slow.
  • Abstraction lets programmers use existing subroutines, libraries and data structures without knowing their details.

Exam technique

  • Tip:Explain what is removed and what is kept, and how this makes the problem solvable.
← Previous noteUse of divide and conquer2.2.2 Computational MethodsNext note →Backtracking, data mining, heuristics, performance modelling, pipelining and visualisation2.2.2 Computational Methods

Back to Computational Methods

Computational Methods

Note 5 of 6

  1. 1Features that make a problem solvable by computational methods
  2. 2Problem recognition
  3. 3Problem decomposition
  4. 4Use of divide and conquer
  5. 5Use of abstraction
  6. 6Backtracking, data mining, heuristics, performance modelling, pipelining and visualisation
Topic overview