Which term describes a chart used to follow program steps by hand?

Which term describes a chart used to follow program steps by hand?

• A. Chart to follow program steps by hand
• B. Names for data that changes in a program
• C. Fixed values that do not change
• D. Trace table

Answer: (D)

Tracking progress of a program by hand relies on recording how each variable changes at each step. A trace table is exactly that—a chart that lists the program variables in columns and the state of the program after each step in rows—so you can see how values evolve as the algorithm runs. This makes it easy to verify logic, spot mistakes, and understand how loops and conditionals influence the outcomes. The other phrases describe things rather than the chart itself. Describing data that changes refers to variables, not the tool used to follow execution. Describing fixed values that do not change refers to constants, again not the chart. And a phrase like “chart to follow program steps by hand” is just a description of the activity, not the formal term used in programming and algorithm study.

Tracking progress of a program by hand relies on recording how each variable changes at each step. A trace table is exactly that—a chart that lists the program variables in columns and the state of the program after each step in rows—so you can see how values evolve as the algorithm runs. This makes it easy to verify logic, spot mistakes, and understand how loops and conditionals influence the outcomes.

The other phrases describe things rather than the chart itself. Describing data that changes refers to variables, not the tool used to follow execution. Describing fixed values that do not change refers to constants, again not the chart. And a phrase like “chart to follow program steps by hand” is just a description of the activity, not the formal term used in programming and algorithm study.