Chapter 2 - 2.3 - Examples of Algorithmic Problem Solving - Practice Problems - Page 64: 4

The original algorithm fails when b < 0 because count is never less than b. If b < 0, change the value of b to -b, but set the value of a variable called bnegative to YES to remember that b was negative. After the product is computed, the sign of product will be incorrect if b was negative, so change the sign. Here is a pseudocode version that works for all integer values of a and b: Get values for a and b Set the value of bnegative to NO If (either a = 0 or b = 0) then $\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of product to 0 Else $\ \ \ \ $ If b < 0 then $\ \ \ \ $$\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of b to -b $\ \ \ \ $$\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of bnegative to YES $\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of count to 0 $\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of product to 0 $\ \ \ \ $ While (count < b) do $\ \ \ \ $$\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of product to (product + a) $\ \ \ \ $$\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of count to (count + 1) $\ \ \ \ $ End of the loop If (bnegative = YES) then $\ \ \ \ $ Print the value of -product Else $\ \ \ \ $ Print the value of product Stop

The original algorithm fails when b < 0 because count is never less than b. If b < 0, change the value of b to -b, but set the value of a variable called bnegative to YES to remember that b was negative. After the product is computed, the sign of product will be incorrect if b was negative, so change the sign. Here is a pseudocode version that works for all integer values of a and b: Get values for a and b Set the value of bnegative to NO If (either a = 0 or b = 0) then $\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of product to 0 Else $\ \ \ \ $ If b < 0 then $\ \ \ \ $$\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of b to -b $\ \ \ \ $$\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of bnegative to YES $\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of count to 0 $\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of product to 0 $\ \ \ \ $ While (count < b) do $\ \ \ \ $$\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of product to (product + a) $\ \ \ \ $$\ \ \ \ $ Set the value of count to (count + 1) $\ \ \ \ $ End of the loop If (bnegative = YES) then $\ \ \ \ $ Print the value of -product Else $\ \ \ \ $ Print the value of product Stop