www.lmu.edu.

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COS 102
Problem Solving in Computer
Science

Lecture Note 1
Lecturer:
ASS. PROF
Akande O. N.O.
Noah AKANDE
(Ph. D.)
Problem Solving
▪ Computer Science is the study of problems,
problem-solving, and the solutions that come out of
this problem-solving process.
▪ This involves the use of computational tools
(computing devices etc) and methods
(programming languages)

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Problem Solving
▪

Computer Science is the study of

problems, problem-solving, and the
solutions that come out of this
problem-solving process.
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▪

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Critical Thinking
▪ "Critical thinking in problem solving" refers to the
ability to analyze information, evaluate different
perspectives, and develop logical solutions to
challenges by systematically examining a problem,
gathering relevant data, and considering various
options before reaching a conclusion;
▪ Essentially, it's the process of actively thinking through
a situation to find the best possible solution.
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Critical Thinking
▪ "Critical thinking in problem solving" refers to the
ability to analyze information, evaluate different
perspectives, and develop logical solutions to
challenges by systematically examining a problem,
gathering relevant data, and considering various
options before reaching a conclusion;
▪ Essentially, it's the process of actively thinking through
a situation to find the best possible solution.
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Critical Thinking
▪

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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Understanding the Problem

– Defining the problem statement
– Identifying the constraints
– Clarifying what the desired outcome or
solution should look like

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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Divide and Conquer

– Break down complex problems into smaller,
more manageable sub-problems.
– Address each sub-problem individually, and then
– Integrate the solutions to form a complete
solution.

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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Brainstorming
– Gather a group of people, if possible, and engage in
brainstorming sessions.
– Encourage the generation of as many ideas and potential
solutions as possible,
– without criticism at this stage. Brainstorming can spark
creative thinking and lead to innovative solutions.

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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Trial and Error

▪ This involves starting with a potential solution, test
it, and adjust based on the results.
▪ This method is particularly useful for hands-on or
practical problems.

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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Analogies
▪ Analogical thinking involves drawing parallels
between the current problem and similar problems
you have encountered or heard of in the past.
▪ By recognizing similarities, you can adapt solutions
from previous experiences to the current problem.

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www.lmu.edu.ng

COS 102
Problem Solving Strategies

Lecture 2
Lecturer:
ASS. PROF O. N. AKANDE
Akande Noah O. (Ph. D.)
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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Use Visual Tools

▪ Visual aids, such as graphs, diagrams, and mind
maps, can help you visualize the problem and its
components.
▪ Flowcharts, in particular, are useful for illustrating
the flow of a process or algorithm.

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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Prioritize and Plan

▪ Once you have multiple potential solutions,
prioritize them based on feasibility, impact, and
other relevant criteria.
▪ Create a plan that outlines the steps needed to
implement your chosen solution.

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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Seek Feedback
▪ Don't hesitate to seek feedback from peers,
mentors, or subject matter experts.
▪ They can provide valuable perspectives, spot
potential flaws in your approach, and suggest
alternative solutions.

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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Persist and Iterate

▪ Problem solving can be a challenging and iterative
process.
▪ Be persistent, and don’t be discouraged by
setbacks or failures.
▪ Learn from your experiences, adjust your
approach, and continue working toward a solution.
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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Cross-disciplinary Thinking
▪ Explore solutions and ideas from other fields or
disciplines.
▪ Sometimes, a solution from an unrelated domain
can be adapted to solve a problem in a novel way.

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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Reflect and Learn

▪ After solving a problem, take the time to reflect on
the process.
▪ What worked well and what could be improved?
▪ Learning from your problem-solving experiences
enhances your skills over time.

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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Ethical Considerations
▪ Always consider the ethical implications of your
solutions.
▪ Ensure that your chosen approach aligns with
ethical standards and doesn't harm individuals or
communities

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Problem Solving Strategies

▪ Use Algorithms
▪ An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure or a set
of well-defined rules used to solve a specific
problem or perform a computation.
▪ It consists of a finite number of instructions that
take input, process it, and produce an output in a
systematic and predictable manner.
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Problem Solving Process
▪ Step 1: Define the Problem
▪ Step 2: Analyze (Clarify) the problem
▪ Step 3: Develop potential solutions.
▪ Step 4: Evaluate the options
▪ Step 5: Select the best Option.
▪ Step 6: Implement the Solution.
▪ Step 7: Measure the Results.

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Problem Solving Process: Step 1: Define the Problem
▪ This involves clearly understanding what needs to be
solved.
▪ This involves gathering requirements, identifying
inputs and expected outputs, and understanding
constraints.
▪ Ask questions like:
– What are the problem's boundaries?
– What should the final solution accomplish?
– Who are the users, and what do they need?

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Step 2: Analyze (Clarify) the Problem
▪ Break the problem into smaller components to
better understand its complexity.
▪ Identify constraints, special cases, and
dependencies.
▪ Look at similar problems that have been solved
before and analyze their solutions.

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Step 3: Develop Potential Solutions
▪ Brainstorm and list all possible solutions.
▪ Consider different algorithms, data structures, and
approaches.

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Step 4: Evaluate the Options

▪ Compare solutions based on:

– Efficiency (Time Complexity, Space Complexity)
– Scalability (Will it work for larger datasets?)
– Feasibility (Can it be implemented with available
resources?)
– Accuracy (Does it produce correct results in all cases?)

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Step 5: Select the Best Option

▪ Choose the most optimal solution based on

evaluation.
▪ Consider real-world constraints like hardware
limitations, execution time, and ease of
implementation.

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Step 6: Implement the Solution

▪ Write the algorithm in a programming language.

▪ Follow structured programming principles:
– Use functions for modularity.
– Apply error handling and exception handling.
– Optimize memory usage and execution speed.
▪ Test the implementation using various test cases
(including edge cases).
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Step 7: Measure the Results
▪ Evaluate the solution's performance:
– Does it solve the problem as expected?
– How does it perform in different environments?
– Are there any unforeseen issues?
▪ Use debugging tools and profiling to optimize
performance.
▪ If the results are unsatisfactory, refine the solution and
repeat steps if necessary.
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Problem: Developing a Student Grade Calculator
▪ Step 1: Define the Problem
▪ The goal is to write a program that calculates a
student's grade based on their scores.
▪ Input: The program should take marks for three
subjects.
▪ Output: The program should calculate the average
score and determine the student's grade using a
grading scale (A, B, C, D, F).
▪ Constraints: Marks should be between 0 and 100.
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Problem: Developing a Student Grade Calculator
▪ Step 2: Analyze the Problem
▪ The program must take three inputs (marks for three
subjects).
▪ It must compute the average score and match it to a
grading scale.
▪ If a student enters invalid marks (e.g., negative
numbers or numbers greater than 100), the program
should handle this gracefully.

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Problem: Developing a Student Grade Calculator

▪ Step 3: Develop Potential Solutions

▪ There are multiple ways to solve this problem:
▪ Using if-else statements to classify grades.
▪ Using a dictionary or switch case
▪ Using mathematical formulas

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Problem: Developing a Student Grade Calculator

▪ Step 4: Evaluate the Options

▪ If-else statements are easy for beginners to
understand.
▪ A dictionary-based approach is more efficient but
might be harder for beginners.
▪ The if-else approach is chosen as it is simple and
straightforward.
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Problem: Developing a Student Grade Calculator

▪ Step 5: Select the Best Option

▪ The if-else approach is selected because it is
beginner-friendly, easy to understand, and works
well for a grading system.

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Problem: Developing a Student Grade Calculator

▪ Step 6: Implement the Solution

▪ Use any programming language of your choice to
implement the solution

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Problem: Developing a Student Grade Calculator
▪ Step 7: Measure the Results
• Test Cases:
• Input: 75, 80, 90 → Output: A
• Input: 55, 60, 65 → Output: B
• Input: 30, 40, 50 → Output: D
• Input: -10, 50, 60 → Output: Invalid Input
• If the program works correctly for all cases, the solution
is valid. Otherwise, debugging is required.
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