Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 12

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Implement and use linked lists (single and double).
• Implement and use hash tables with collision resolution.
• Apply file handling techniques for persistent storage.
• Use exception handling to make programs more robust.
• Design a small-scale application for a South African context.

Lesson summary

This week, we delve into advanced solution development focusing on complex data structures and files. Understanding these concepts is crucial for creating robust and efficient applications that can handle large datasets and perform complex operations. In the South African context, this is particularly relevant as we increasingly rely on data-driven solutions for addressing challenges in various sectors, from agriculture to healthcare. For instance, efficiently managing patient records in a hospital or analyzing crop yields for optimal farming practices requires a solid understanding of complex data structures and file manipulation techniques.

Lesson notes

2.1 Linked Lists A linked list is a linear data structure where elements are not stored in contiguous memory locations. Each element (node) contains data and a pointer (or link) to the next node in the sequence.

Types of Linked Lists: Singly Linked List: Each node points only to the next node.

Doubly Linked List: Each node points to both the next and previous nodes, allowing for traversal in both directions.

Advantages of Linked Lists over Arrays: Dynamic Size: Linked lists can grow or shrink dynamically at runtime, unlike arrays which have a fixed size.

Efficient Insertion/Deletion: Inserting or deleting elements in the middle of a linked list is generally faster than in an array, as it doesn't require shifting elements.