I have just started a basic class in programming and I am totally lost. Can someone help me out? I have to write pseudocodes and create flowchart and don't have a clue. I need help with the following: flowchart, pseudo-code, Input and Output variables, and also an Program Desk Check for the following problem:

A small startup software developer company needs to create a program that will calculate the pay of its employees. For the first version of the program, the company wants the program to accept an employee’s name, the number of hours the employee worked, and the hourly pay rate. The program will then calculate the gross pay, display the employee’s name, number of hours worked, pay rate, and gross pay.

I don't even know where to start, Thanks In Advance!

Try to study the class notes you have taken during the course and the textbook. They give valuable information. For flowcharts, try the following article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowchart

You will have to understand the basics before you can design and code a programme, or its pseudocode.

You need to come up with a pseudocode or a flowchart before you can do the desk check.

For more information on desk check, read your textbook, or try the following article:
http://ironbark.bendigo.latrobe.edu.au/subjects/PE/2005s1/other_resources/desk_check_guide.html

Besic

A small startup software developer Company needs to create a program that will calculate the pay of its employees. For the third version of the program, the company wants the program to accept an employee’s name, the number of hours the employee worked, and the hourly pay rate. The program will then calculate the gross pay, display the employee’s name, number of hours worked, pay rate, and gross pay, and calculate and display the net pay of the person after taxes have been calculated and deducted.

Of course, I'm here to help! Let's break down the problem step by step.

1. Flowchart: A flowchart is a visual representation of the steps involved in solving a problem. It uses various shapes and arrows to represent different actions and decision points. To create a flowchart for this problem, you can follow these steps:
- Start by drawing a rectangle and write "Start" inside it.
- Draw a parallelogram and write "Input employee's name, number of hours worked, and pay rate."
- Draw a diamond-shaped decision box and write "Hourly pay rate >= 0?" inside it.
- Depending on the decision, draw arrows to different actions, such as calculating the gross pay or displaying an error message.
- Finally, draw a rectangle and write "Display employee's name, hours worked, pay rate, and gross pay" inside it.

2. Pseudocode: Pseudocode is a way to write detailed steps in plain English that resemble code but are not tied to any specific programming language. Here's an example of pseudocode for this problem:

```
START
Input employee's name
Input number of hours worked
Input hourly pay rate

IF hourly pay rate >= 0 THEN
Calculate gross pay = number of hours worked * hourly pay rate
Display employee's name, hours worked, pay rate, and gross pay
ELSE
Display "Invalid input. Please enter a valid pay rate."
ENDIF
```

This pseudocode outlines the operations needed to solve the problem. You can convert it to actual code in a programming language later.

3. Input and Output Variables: In this problem, the input variables are:
- Employee's name (string)
- Number of hours worked (integer)
- Hourly pay rate (float or decimal)

The output variables are:
- Gross pay (float or decimal)

4. Program Desk Check: A program desk check involves manually running through the steps of the program to validate its correctness. Here's an example of a program desk check for this problem:

```
Employee's name: John
Number of hours worked: 40
Hourly pay rate: $15.50

Calculation:
Gross pay = 40 hours * $15.50 per hour
Gross pay = $620

Output:
Employee's name: John
Number of hours worked: 40
Hourly pay rate: $15.50
Gross pay: $620
```

By going through this desk check, you can ensure that the program's expected output matches the calculated output.

I hope these explanations help you get started! Don't hesitate to ask if you have any further questions.