1. Discuss the types of computer software available to solve common problems

2. Review logical problems and identify appropriate algorithms

3. Identify logical patterns within calculations

4. Review mathematical constructs and produce computerised solutions

Tasks:

A conference centre is looking to develop a room schedule that will help them optimise the amount of income they can gain from hiring their facilities. Given the following facilities and constraints design an algorithm that provides a near optimum solution.

Rooms, their capacity, facilities and costs

Rooms are only bookable in 1-­-hour blocks. Rooms can be booked from 9:00am until 5:00pm Monday to Thursday and until 3:00pm on a Friday. Refreshments and lunch are served in the room. Where an event runs for more than 1 day it should be booked in the same room. Where one event follows another the conference centre service staff require 1 hour to prepare the room.
In the event an event cannot be booked in the required week it will go into the following week.

Extra services
• Light refreshments at £1.50 per head.
• Lunch Buffet at £3.50 per head
• Wifi access at an extra £20 per half day (4 hours)
• Flip chart and pens at an extra £5.

Test Booking data

Designing an algorithm that only accounts for this specific set will achieve 50% of the marks for the algorithm. Higher grades will be achieved for making parts of your algorithm generic to any data set.

Part 1: You should submit a report (1000 words +/-­-10%) that includes the following:

• Discussion of research and sources you have used to help you develop the algorithm

• The assumptions you have made

• The limitations of your algorithm

• Your final algorithm design (as an embedded image in the appendix)

Part 2: You will be asked to demonstrate how your algorithm works and explain the benefits and limitations of developing software solutions to common problems such as that in the scenario.