APCSP Algorithms and Programming 5

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of a simulation being used to solve a problem?

Accepted Answer

Modeling the spread of a disease to predict future infection rates

Answer

Simulations model real-world processes (like disease spread) using algorithms to explore scenarios that are difficult or impossible to test directly.

Question 2

What is the output of the following pseudocode?
result ← 1
FOR EACH i IN [1, 2, 3, 4]
  result ← result * i
DISPLAY result

Accepted Answer

24

Answer

The loop computes 1×1×2×3×4 = 24, which is 4 factorial.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes what makes an algorithm 'efficient'?

Accepted Answer

It solves the problem using a reasonable amount of time and resources relative to input size

Answer

An efficient algorithm minimizes the time and memory needed to solve a problem, especially as input size grows.

Question 4

A program assigns the value of variable A to variable B, then changes A to 99. What is the value of B?

Accepted Answer

The original value of A before the assignment

Answer

Assignment copies the current value of A into B; later changes to A do not affect B because they are separate storage locations.

Question 5

What does it mean when two different inputs to a hash function produce the same output?

Accepted Answer

A collision has occurred

Answer

A collision occurs when two distinct inputs map to the same hash value, which is an undesirable property in cryptographic and data-storage contexts.

(APCSP) AP Computer Science Principles Practice Test