Testing for correctness

It is best to check the algorithm for correctness before it is converted to code. A trace table is a
method used to test an algorithm for correctness

Trace table – how it is done

A trace table is a rectangular array of rows and columns. The column headings are the variables
in the pseudocode. As the instructions in the pseudocode are carried out and the variables are
modified, the changes are recorded in the appropriate column in the table. When the pseudocode
terminates, the final value in the trace table should reflect the correct result.

Example 1
Test the correctness of the following pseudocode
Sum = 0
Read number
While number <> 0 do
Sum = Sum+ number
Read number
Endwhile
Print “Sum of numbers is,” Sum

Use the following test data as input 12, 23, 34, 0

Sum Number

0 12

12 23

35 34

69 0

Example 2
Test the logics of the following pseudocode for correctness using a trace table. Use the
following as your test data, -12, 23, 30, 0, -120, 50, 0, 0, 15, 999
Start
Ncount=0
Zcount=0
Possum=0
Read num
While num <> 999 do
If
Num<0 then
Ncount ← Ncount + 1
Endif
If num=0 then
zcount ←zcount+1
Endif
If num>0 then
possum←possum+num
endif
read num
Endwhile
Print “number of negative numbers is”, Ncount
Print “Number of zero’s is”, Zcount
Print “Sum of positive number is”, Possum
End

Ncount Zcount Possu Num

m

0 0 0 -12

1 1 23 23

2 2 53 30

3 103 0

118 -120

50

15

999

Example 3
Complete the trace table for the following algorithm given that the number 4 is the input value
for x

Read x
For M = 1 to x do
Y =x–M
Z =5*Y–M
Endfor
Print Z

X M Y Z

4 1 3 14

4 2 2 8

4 3 1 2

4 4 0 -4

Class Activities
Do a trace table for the following SIX algorithm

Biggest =0
For Counter 1 to 10 do
Read num
If num > Biggest
Biggest ← num
Endif
Print Biggest

Complete the trace table below for the following algorithm if x = 5, y = 10, Z = 15. What will be
printed by the following algorithm?

Read X
Read Y
Read Z
Set K ← X
Set Y ← Z
Set Z ← K
Set Y ← Z
Write X, Y, Z, K

Complete a trace table for each of the following pseudocode

Sum = 0
N = 10
While N < 40 do
Sum ← Sum + N
Print N, Sum
N = N+5
Endwhile

Count = 1
X=2
While Count < 25 do
X=X+2
Count = Count + 5
Endwhile

X=5
Read 10
Sum = 45
While sum < 75 do
 Sum = Sum + K
K=K+X
Endwhile
X=4
Read X
For Q = 1 to X do
Y =4–Q
Z = 10 + Y – Q
endfor