Can anyone explain to me how to tackle this?

[geoffw]

[El Gringo]

Using a column for the sum and the counter, I followed the flowchart, noting down the values as I went.

S   C
0   1        Move zero to sum, move 1 to counter.
1   2        Add counter to sum, add one to counter.
3   3
6   4
10  5
15  6        Counter > 5, so print the sum.

So unless I'm mistaken, the answer is 15.

[geoffw]

Now I was stopping at 10, but, of course, the logic tells you to stop WHEN Counter is >5 not before as I was assuming - Thanks!

[silver]

must be bored..

my $iSum = 0;
my $iCounter = 1;

while (1) {

print "Sum is [$iSum] Counter is [$iCounter]\n";

  $iSum = $iSum + $iCounter;
  $iCounter = $iCounter + 1;

  if ($iCounter > 5) {
    goto END;
  }

}

END: print "Finished Sum is [$iSum] Counter is [$iCounter]\n";

Sum is [0] Counter is [1]
Sum is [1] Counter is [2]
Sum is [3] Counter is [3]
Sum is [6] Counter is [4]
Sum is [10] Counter is [5]
Finished Sum is [15] Counter is [6]

[jenonnet]

I worked the correct answer out but can anyone tell me what the letter A in a circle means? I managed to get the right answer without taking any notice of it but I'd like to know what it means please, if anyone can tell me.

[Austin_KW]

I worked the correct answer out but can anyone tell me what the letter A in a circle means? I managed to get the right answer without taking any notice of it but I'd like to know what it means please, if anyone can tell me.

Originally Posted by jenonnet

Not sure what convention this is, but in other graphical languages the circle is called a connector. It allows you to split a diagram/design over multiple pages or graphs.

So you could have
(A)--> on one diagram
and -->(A) on another but (A) is the same logical point.
Also you can have many -->(A) ie many paths can take you back to A. But only one instance of (A)-->

In this case the "NO" output of the decision goes back to the original (A) but it could just as easily go to another connector labeled (A) and it would mean the same thing;

Think of it like a label if that helps.

[jenonnet]

Ah, now it all becomes clear!!! Thanks for that explanation Austin.

[silver]

yep - I think (A) is unneeded really, the arrow with "NO" could just as easily go back to the box directly below (A) with "ADD COUTER TO SUM" written in it ?