Introduction to Flow Charts

WEEK -11
 Flow Chart

 A flow chart is a graphical or symbolic representation of a process.

 Each step in the process is represented by a different symbol and contains

a short description of the process step.

 The flow chart symbols are linked together with arrows showing the
process flow direction.

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 Flow Chart Symbols

Different flow chart symbols have different meanings. The most common flow chart
symbols are:

Terminator: An oval flow chart shape indicating the start or end of the process.

Process: A rectangular flow chart shape indicating a normal process flow step.

Decision: A diamond flow chart shape indication a branch in the process flow.

Connector: A small, labelled, circular flow chart shape used to indicate a jump in
the process flow.

Data: A parallelogram that indicates data input or output (I/O) for a process.

Document: used to indicate a document or report.

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 Flow Chart Symbols

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 Types of Flow Chart

There are four general types:

Document flowcharts, showing controls over a document-flow through a system

Data flowcharts, showing controls over a data-flow in a system

System flowcharts showing controls at a physical or resource level

Program flowchart, showing the controls in a program within a system

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Zafar Iqbal Khan 8 Application of ICT
 Flow Chart Symbols

Control flow diagrams were developed in the 1950s, and are widely used in multiple
engineering disciplines.

They are one of the classic business process modeling methodologies, along with flow
charts, DFD, Functional flow block diagram, Gantt charts and PERT diagrams.

A control flow diagram can consist of a subdivision to show sequential steps,

with if-then-else conditions,
repetition, and/or
case conditions.

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 Control Flow Diagram Types

There are several types of control flow diagrams, for example:

Change control flow diagram, used in project management.

Configuration decision control flow diagram, used in configuration

management

Process control flow diagram, used in process management.

Quality control flow diagram, used in quality control.

Zafar Iqbal Khan 10 Introduction to Computing

 Example 1

Draw a flowchart that will read the two sides

of a rectangle and calculate its area.

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 Example 1
START

Input
W, L

A LxW

Print
A

STOP

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 Example 2

Draw a flowchart that will calculate the roots of a

quadratic equation
ax 2  bx  c  0
Hint: d = sqrt ( b 2  4ac ), and the roots are: x1 = (–b
+ d)/2a and x2 = (–b – d)/2a

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 START

Input
a, b, c

d  sqrt(b x b – 4 x a x c)

x1 (–b + d) / (2 x a)

X2  (–b – d) / (2 x a)
Print
x1 ,x2

STOP

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 Example 3

Draw a flowchart that reads two values, determines the largest

value and prints the largest value with an identifying message.

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 Example 3
START

Input
VALUE1,VALUE2

Y is N
VALUE1>VALUE2

MAX MAX 
VALUE1 VALUE2

Print
“The largest value is”, MAX

STOP
 Example 4
Draw a flowchart to
a) read an employee name (NAME), overtime hours
worked (OVERTIME), hours absent (ABSENT)
and
b) determine the bonus payment (PAYMENT).

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 Example 5

Draw a flowchart to calculate 24 using a loop

approach?

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 Flowchart
START

Base  2
Power 4

Product  Base
Counter  1

is N
Counter < Power

Y Print

 Product * Base
Product
Product

Counter  Counter + 1 STOP

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 Example 6
The algorithm sums all the even numbers between 1 and 20
inclusive and then displays the sum.

It uses a repeat loop and contains a null else within the repeat loop.

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 Example 7
Draw a flowchart to find the sum of first 50 natural numbers.
 Example 9
Draw a flowchart to find the largest of three numbers A, B, and C.
 Example 10
A product assembly team in a gaming machine manufacturer were
looking for ways of building the product more efficiently. They broke
down the assembly process into a set of Flowcharts, showing how sub-
assemblies were made and then built into the final product. Analysis of
the reel assembly process revealed two improvements:
The kit of parts was already checked by the kit assembly line, who
were sometimes careless, as they knew the kit would be rechecked.
The assembly line process was improved so the check here could be
removed. This saved over two minutes per reel in checking, and up to
fifteen minutes when the kit was faulty.
Fitting the reel band after the reel had been attached to the base was
awkward. Fitting the band before the reel was attached to the base was
more comfortable and saved about a minute per reel.
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[1]. Graham Brown and David Watson, " Information and Communication Technology ” 2013.

[2]. Peter Norton, “Introduction to Computers” 6th International Edition (McGraw Hill)

[3]. Charles S. Parker, " Understanding Computer Today & Tomorrow”, 2000.