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OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science
Instructor Answer Guide
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to Computer Science................................................................................ 3
Chapter 2: Computational Thinking and Design Reusability ........................................................ 14
Chapter 3: Data Structures and Algorithms .................................................................................. 32
Chapter 4: Linguistic Realization of Algorithms: Low-Level Programming Languages ................. 52
Chapter 5: Hardware Realizations of Algorithms: Computer Systems Design ............................. 77
Chapter 6: Infrastructure Abstraction Layer: Operating Systems ................................................ 90
Chapter 7: High-Level Programming Languages ......................................................................... 109
Chapter 8: Data Management .................................................................................................... 133
Chapter 9: Software Engineering ................................................................................................ 154
Chapter 10: Enterprise and Solution Architectures Management ............................................. 167
Chapter 11: Web Applications Development ............................................................................. 182
Chapter 12: Cloud-Native Applications Development ................................................................ 197
Chapter 13: Hybrid Multicloud Digital Solutions Development ................................................. 220
Chapter 14: Cyber Resources Qualities and Cyber Computing Governance .............................. 240
OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science Instructor Answer Guide
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OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science Instructor Answer Guide
Chapter 1: Introduction to Computer Science
Review Questions
1. What is computer science?
[Answer: Computer science is the study of computing, which includes all phenomena related to
computers, such as the Internet. With foundations in engineering and mathematics, computer
science focuses on studying algorithms, which are instructions that enable computing. This
includes computer hardware and software and the way these are used to process information.]
2. What two subjects does computer science combine the foundations of?
a. math and engineering
[Correct. Computer science principles are built on mathematic concepts and engineering
techniques are applied to advance computational technology over time.]
b. math and physics
[Incorrect. Computer science is based on the concepts of mathematics, but not directly
physics. It could be argued that hardware design applies the laws of electricity, but that
would only apply to hardware and not the general concepts of digital computations.]
c. physics and engineering
[Incorrect. Computer science is based on the concepts of engineering, but not directly
physics. It could be argued that hardware design applies the laws of electricity, but that
would only apply to hardware and not the general concepts of digital computations.]
d. math and chemistry
[Incorrect. Computer science is based on the concepts of engineering, but not
chemistry.]
[Answer: A]
3. What can execute an algorithm?
[Answer: Human computers, which were common before the 1950s, and digital computers,
which can execute computer programs that represent algorithms.]
4. What enables the ENIAC (one of the first digital computers, invented in 1945) to be able to
compute anything that can run on modern computers?
a. Both the ENIAC and modern computers have memory.
[Incorrect. Although it is true that both the ENIAC and modern computers have some
way of representing memory, memory alone doesn’t explain how the ENIAC can
compute the same things as modern computers. What is common between the ENIAC
and modern computers is their shared common approach to manipulating information
stored in memory in a consistent way.
b. Both the ENIAC and modern computers share the same hardware.
[Incorrect. The ENIAC used vacuum tubes to represent memory, whereas modern
computers use silicon.]
c. Both the ENIAC and modern computers are considered Turing-complete.
[Correct. Because the ENIAC is Turing complete, it can compute anything that can run on
modern computers.]
d. Both the ENIAC and modern computers run the same software.
[Incorrect. Not necessarily. Software is written for programming languages that are
specific to computer systems or computer architectures. Software has advanced a lot
3
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since 1945, so the techniques and programs for modern computers likely won’t run
directly on an ENIAC. However, we can rewrite those programs for the ENIAC.]
5. What invention was credited as the first calculator?
a. punch cards
[Incorrect. Punch cards were invented in the 1890s.]
b. abacus
[Correct. The abacus was a device that was considered the first calculator.]
c. Difference Machine
[Incorrect. The Difference Machine was invented in the 1620s.]
d. ENIAC
[Incorrect. The ENIAC was the first computer, but it was not considered the first
calculator.]
[Answer: B]
6. What term is considered an algorithm that can be run on a computer?
a. artificial intelligence
[Incorrect. Artificial intelligence is defined as the development of computer functions to
perform tasks, such as visual perception and decision-making processes, that usually are
performed by human intelligence.]
b. algorithm
[Incorrect. Algorithm is defined as a sequence of precise instructions.]
c. computer program
[Correct. A computer program is defined as algorithms that can be run on a computer.]
d. programming language
[Incorrect. A programming language is defined as a language consisting of symbols and
instructions that can be interpreted by a computer.]
[Answer: C]
7. Why is computer science often not considered a science?
a. Computer science does not study natural objects.
[Correct. It is not considered a natural science because it does not study natural objects
or phenomenon.]
b. Computer science emphasizes the discovery of natural phenomena.
[Incorrect. The natural sciences, not computer science, emphasize discovery of natural
phenomena.]
c. Computer science is spreadsheet-based.
[Incorrect. While spreadsheets are important in computer science, this has nothing to
do with whether computer science is regarded as a science.]
d. Computer science focuses on computational structures.
[Incorrect. While computational structures are important in computer science, this has
nothing to do with whether computer science is regarded as a science.]
[Answer: A]
8. What is the definition of data science?
a. a subfield of computer science that emphasizes the social aspects of computation
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OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science
Instructor Answer Guide
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to Computer Science................................................................................ 3
Chapter 2: Computational Thinking and Design Reusability ........................................................ 14
Chapter 3: Data Structures and Algorithms .................................................................................. 32
Chapter 4: Linguistic Realization of Algorithms: Low-Level Programming Languages ................. 52
Chapter 5: Hardware Realizations of Algorithms: Computer Systems Design ............................. 77
Chapter 6: Infrastructure Abstraction Layer: Operating Systems ................................................ 90
Chapter 7: High-Level Programming Languages ......................................................................... 109
Chapter 8: Data Management .................................................................................................... 133
Chapter 9: Software Engineering ................................................................................................ 154
Chapter 10: Enterprise and Solution Architectures Management ............................................. 167
Chapter 11: Web Applications Development ............................................................................. 182
Chapter 12: Cloud-Native Applications Development ................................................................ 197
Chapter 13: Hybrid Multicloud Digital Solutions Development ................................................. 220
Chapter 14: Cyber Resources Qualities and Cyber Computing Governance .............................. 240
OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science Instructor Answer Guide
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
4/19/2026 2
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,https://www.stuvia.com/user/openstaxstudyhub https://www.stuvia.com/user/openstaxstudyhub https://www.stuvia.com/user/openstaxstudyhub
OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science Instructor Answer Guide
Chapter 1: Introduction to Computer Science
Review Questions
1. What is computer science?
[Answer: Computer science is the study of computing, which includes all phenomena related to
computers, such as the Internet. With foundations in engineering and mathematics, computer
science focuses on studying algorithms, which are instructions that enable computing. This
includes computer hardware and software and the way these are used to process information.]
2. What two subjects does computer science combine the foundations of?
a. math and engineering
[Correct. Computer science principles are built on mathematic concepts and engineering
techniques are applied to advance computational technology over time.]
b. math and physics
[Incorrect. Computer science is based on the concepts of mathematics, but not directly
physics. It could be argued that hardware design applies the laws of electricity, but that
would only apply to hardware and not the general concepts of digital computations.]
c. physics and engineering
[Incorrect. Computer science is based on the concepts of engineering, but not directly
physics. It could be argued that hardware design applies the laws of electricity, but that
would only apply to hardware and not the general concepts of digital computations.]
d. math and chemistry
[Incorrect. Computer science is based on the concepts of engineering, but not
chemistry.]
[Answer: A]
3. What can execute an algorithm?
[Answer: Human computers, which were common before the 1950s, and digital computers,
which can execute computer programs that represent algorithms.]
4. What enables the ENIAC (one of the first digital computers, invented in 1945) to be able to
compute anything that can run on modern computers?
a. Both the ENIAC and modern computers have memory.
[Incorrect. Although it is true that both the ENIAC and modern computers have some
way of representing memory, memory alone doesn’t explain how the ENIAC can
compute the same things as modern computers. What is common between the ENIAC
and modern computers is their shared common approach to manipulating information
stored in memory in a consistent way.
b. Both the ENIAC and modern computers share the same hardware.
[Incorrect. The ENIAC used vacuum tubes to represent memory, whereas modern
computers use silicon.]
c. Both the ENIAC and modern computers are considered Turing-complete.
[Correct. Because the ENIAC is Turing complete, it can compute anything that can run on
modern computers.]
d. Both the ENIAC and modern computers run the same software.
[Incorrect. Not necessarily. Software is written for programming languages that are
specific to computer systems or computer architectures. Software has advanced a lot
3
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, https://www.stuvia.com/user/openstaxstudyhub https://www.stuvia.com/user/openstaxstudyhub https://www.stuvia.com/user/openstaxstudyhub
since 1945, so the techniques and programs for modern computers likely won’t run
directly on an ENIAC. However, we can rewrite those programs for the ENIAC.]
5. What invention was credited as the first calculator?
a. punch cards
[Incorrect. Punch cards were invented in the 1890s.]
b. abacus
[Correct. The abacus was a device that was considered the first calculator.]
c. Difference Machine
[Incorrect. The Difference Machine was invented in the 1620s.]
d. ENIAC
[Incorrect. The ENIAC was the first computer, but it was not considered the first
calculator.]
[Answer: B]
6. What term is considered an algorithm that can be run on a computer?
a. artificial intelligence
[Incorrect. Artificial intelligence is defined as the development of computer functions to
perform tasks, such as visual perception and decision-making processes, that usually are
performed by human intelligence.]
b. algorithm
[Incorrect. Algorithm is defined as a sequence of precise instructions.]
c. computer program
[Correct. A computer program is defined as algorithms that can be run on a computer.]
d. programming language
[Incorrect. A programming language is defined as a language consisting of symbols and
instructions that can be interpreted by a computer.]
[Answer: C]
7. Why is computer science often not considered a science?
a. Computer science does not study natural objects.
[Correct. It is not considered a natural science because it does not study natural objects
or phenomenon.]
b. Computer science emphasizes the discovery of natural phenomena.
[Incorrect. The natural sciences, not computer science, emphasize discovery of natural
phenomena.]
c. Computer science is spreadsheet-based.
[Incorrect. While spreadsheets are important in computer science, this has nothing to
do with whether computer science is regarded as a science.]
d. Computer science focuses on computational structures.
[Incorrect. While computational structures are important in computer science, this has
nothing to do with whether computer science is regarded as a science.]
[Answer: A]
8. What is the definition of data science?
a. a subfield of computer science that emphasizes the social aspects of computation
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
4/19/2026 4
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