What is decomposition? | Year 3 Computing PDF Download

What does decomposition mean?

• Decomposition involves breaking down a complex problem or task into smaller, more manageable parts. This strategy helps in simplifying the overall task and making it easier to approach.
• When faced with a large or challenging problem, decomposition enables individuals to tackle it effectively by dividing it into smaller, more achievable components.

Breaking down everyday tasks

• Decomposition can be applied to everyday tasks, such as organizing books, to make them more manageable and less overwhelming.
• For instance, when faced with the task of organizing a large collection of books, comics, and magazines, breaking it down into smaller steps using decomposition can simplify the process.

Time to make a list

• Collect books, comics, and magazines from all rooms and place them on the bed.
• Divide the items into separate piles based on their type: books, comics, and magazines.
• Further divide each pile according to subject area.
• You can then sort each pile by:
  • Arranging magazines in chronological order.
  • Organizing comics by characters.
  • Sorting books alphabetically by title.

Breaking down the task into smaller, actionable steps helps in approaching the task systematically and reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed.

Using decomposition to break down a computer programme task

• Decomposition is useful in solving computer programming problems. By breaking the problem into smaller parts, we can determine the instructions needed for each part.
• We can address these smaller parts individually using logical reasoning, ensuring that we think sensibly about the problem and consider possible solutions.
• Next, we organize these instructions into a sequence, forming an algorithm, before translating it into code for the program.

Collecting power packs with the Bitesize Bot

We need to create a program to guide the Bitesize Bot through a maze of shapes, collecting battery power packs along the way before returning home.

Time to decompose

The Bitesize Bot will need to move forward and turn left or right multiple times during her journey. We can break down the problem into smaller parts:

• Collecting the first battery power pack
• Moving through the shape maze
• Collecting the second battery power pack
• Going home

Now we have decomposed the big problem into smaller ones, we can work on each one separately.

• Collecting the first power pack
  • The bot needs to move forward three squares
  • She then needs to collect the power pack
• Moving through the shape maze
  • The bot needs to turn right
  • She then needs to move forward three squares
  • Then turn left