which of the following best explains the role of selection in a program
it is the order of the commands to the computer
it is the set of instructions the computer follows
it is a decision making function
it is a repetetive function
The option "it is a decision-making function" best explains the role of selection in a program.
The correct answer is: "It is a decision-making function."
Selection in a program refers to the process of making decisions based on certain conditions. It allows the program to choose between different sets of commands or actions based on the evaluation of given conditions or criteria. This decision-making function is often implemented using control structures like if-else statements or switch statements in programming languages.
The best explanation for the role of selection in a program is that it is a decision-making function. Selection allows a program to make choices based on certain conditions or criteria. It helps determine which set of instructions to execute based on the result of a condition or a comparison.
To understand the role of selection in a program, you can examine the logic and flow of the program. A program may use if statements, switch cases, or any other conditional statements to implement selection. These statements evaluate a condition or expression and execute different sets of instructions based on the outcome.
For example, consider a program that checks whether a number is positive or negative. The selection logic could be written as:
```
if(number > 0) {
// perform operations for a positive number
} else {
// perform operations for a negative number
}
```
In this case, the program uses an if statement to evaluate the condition `number > 0`. If the condition is true, the program executes the instructions within the if block. If the condition is false, it executes the instructions within the else block. This decision-making process based on the condition is known as selection.
Therefore, selection in a program represents a crucial decision-making process, allowing the program to adapt its behavior based on different conditions or criteria.