Exercise 1 - Turing Machines

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PURPOSE

This exercise is designed to free your mind from thinking of big picture problems, and instead to focus on details. This mindset will be crucial when we study assembly language. Think Lego blocks. Focus on one block at a time, rather than the elephant you are trying to build.

TASK

Take the problem of determining whether a number is a prime number. Draw a flowchart to represent this algorithm. Keep each box in the flowchart as simple as possible, with only one operation in each box. Each box will represent a Turing machine. Use rectangles to represent arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and modulus (remainder). Use diamonds to represent relational operations such as equals, not equals, less-than, etc. Use circles to represent the different outcomes: one for prime and one for not prime.

OPTIONS

You may use any tool you wish. I recommend LucidChart, a free online program at lucidchart.com. Many word processors, such as MS Word, have drawing tools. You may also use a drawing program like MS Paint. You may even draw your chart by hand and submit a picture.