| Exam Board | Edexcel |
|---|---|
| Module | D1 (Decision Mathematics 1) |
| Marks | 7 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Sorting Algorithms |
| Type | Algorithm Tracing |
| Difficulty | Moderate -0.8 This is a straightforward algorithm tracing exercise requiring students to follow given instructions step-by-step with provided data, then identify the algorithm's purpose (likely finding maximum/minimum). It's purely procedural with no problem-solving or novel insight required, making it easier than average A-level questions. |
| Spec | 7.03a Algorithm definition: input, output, deterministic, finite7.03c Working with algorithms: trace, interpret, adapt |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Final Output = 1 | M2 A4 |
| (b) | it finds the smallest value in the set of data | B1 |
**(a)** | Final Output = 1 | M2 A4 | (7) |
**(b)** | it finds the smallest value in the set of data | B1 | |2. This question should be answered on the sheet provided.
\begin{figure}[h]
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{acc09687-11a3-4392-af17-3d4d331d5ab4-03_1239_1442_306_283}
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty}
\caption{Fig. 1}
\end{center}
\end{figure}
The data
$$x _ { 1 } = 8 , \quad x _ { 2 } = 2 , \quad x _ { 3 } = 4 , \quad x _ { 4 } = 3 , \quad x _ { 5 } = 5 , \quad x _ { 6 } = 1 , \quad x _ { 7 } = 7 ,$$
is to be used in the algorithm given in Figure 1.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Complete the table on the answer sheet recording the results of each instruction as the algorithm is applied and state the final output using the given data.
\item Explain what the algorithm achieves for any set of data $x _ { 1 }$ to $x _ { n }$.
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel D1 Q2 [7]}}