A Guide to Problem Solving with Pseudocode

When learning to program, many beginners rush straight into writing code. But the real skill of a programmer isn’t typing fast — it’s learning to solve problems step by step. One of the best habits one can build is to slow down, understand the problem, break it down, write pseudocode, and then translate that into Python. In this article, we’ll walk through that process using a simple but practical example.

Step 1: Understand the Problem

Problem: You are given a list of numbers. Your task is to return the sum of all positive numbers in that list.

Example:

• Input: [1, -4, 7, 12]
• Output: 20

Why? Because 1 + 7 + 12 = 20, and we ignore the negative number -4.

This is the starting point: know exactly what the problem is asking for.

Step 2: Break the Problem Down

Instead of thinking “How do I code this?” ask:

1. I have a list of numbers.
2. I need to check which ones are positive.
3. I need to add them together.
4. I need to return the total.

Breaking problems into smaller steps makes them less intimidating.

Step 3: Pseudocode

But what is pseudocode?

🔹 Definition: Pseudocode is a way of describing your program’s logic in plain language, without worrying about exact syntax. It’s like a recipe before you start cooking.

• In a recipe: “Add sugar to the bowl if it’s measured correctly.”
• In pseudocode: “If number is greater than 0, add it to the total.”

It’s not real code — it’s a blueprint that can be turned into code later.

Here is a real life example. Lot of us when we wake up first problem we solve is make a hot coffee. What are the steps we take? Let’s break it down

START
  Fill kettle with water
  Turn kettle on
  Put coffee in mug while water is boiling
  Wait until water is boiled
  Pour hot water into mug
  (Optional) Add milk
  (Optional) Add sugar
  Stir
  Drink
END

START
  Fill kettle with water
  Turn kettle on
  Put coffee in mug while water is boiling
  Wait until water is boiled
  Pour hot water into mug
  (Optional) Add milk
  (Optional) Add sugar
  Stir
  Drink
END

That’s it, that’s the pseudocode! By breaking down the steps and in plain English before we add any programming syntax is what pseudocode is for.

But why use pseudocode?

• It makes your logic clear.
• It helps you communicate your ideas (even with non-programmers).
• It avoids getting stuck on small syntax errors too early.
• It works in any language (Python, JavaScript, Java…).

Step 4: Write Pseudocode for Our Problem

Here’s how our problem looks in pseudocode:

START
  Set total to 0
  For each number in the list
      If number is greater than 0
          Add number to total
  End For loop
  Return total
END

START
  Set total to 0
  For each number in the list
      If number is greater than 0
          Add number to total
  End For loop
  Return total
END

Even if you don’t know Python yet, you can kinda understand where this thing is going.

Even though it looks kinda like code, but we can write this anywhere, i.e on a paper, in our notepad etc. By pseudocoding we are writing down the steps.

Step 5: Translate Pseudocode into Python

Now we can write the actual Python function:

def positive_sum(numbers):
    total = 0
    for num in numbers:
        if num > 0:
            total += num
    return total

# Test it
print(positive_sum([1, -4, 7, 12]))  # Output: 20

def positive_sum(numbers):
    total = 0
    for num in numbers:
        if num > 0:
            total += num
    return total

# Test it
print(positive_sum([1, -4, 7, 12]))  # Output: 20

Line by line, this matches the pseudocode steps.

Step 6: Test with More Examples

It’s important to test with different cases:

print(positive_sum([-1, -2, -3]))    # Output: 0
print(positive_sum([5, 10, 15]))     # Output: 30
print(positive_sum([]))              # Output: 0

print(positive_sum([-1, -2, -3]))    # Output: 0
print(positive_sum([5, 10, 15]))     # Output: 30
print(positive_sum([]))              # Output: 0

All work as expected 🙂

Step 7: Connecting to the Real World

You might think this example is too simple, but the process is exactly how real-world problems are solved:

• Banking App:
  To calculate total income, only positive (credit) transactions are summed.
• Health App:
  A fitness tracker might accidentally log negative steps. You only want to add positive step counts.
• Inventory Management:
  In a warehouse, positive numbers mean “stock added,” negative mean “stock sold.” To measure incoming stock, only positives are summed.

So the same small coding exercise is a building block for bigger, real systems.

Conclusion

Problem solving in programming isn’t about memorising syntax — it’s about developing a clear process:

1. Understand the problem
2. Break it down into smaller steps
3. Write pseudocode (the plan)
4. Translate into Python
5. Test and improve

Master this workflow on small problems, and you’ll be ready for larger, real-world challenges. Next time you face a problem, grab a pen and paper, write the pseudocode first, and then let Python bring it to life.

Happy coding 🙂