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Five Notations for Requirements Specification

publish date: 2026/06/06 10:19:25.223319 UTC

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Match each requirements notation to its correct description.

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Notation

Natural Language Sentences
Structured Natural Language
Design Description Languages
Graphical Notations
Mathematical Specifications

Description

Graphical models supplemented by text annotations used to define functional requirements; UML use case and sequence diagrams are commonly used
Requirements written using numbered sentences in natural language; each sentence should express one requirement
Notations based on mathematical concepts such as finite-state machines or sets; unambiguous but customers often cannot understand them
Requirements written in natural language on a standard form or template; each field provides information about an aspect of the requirement
Uses a language like a programming language with more abstract features to define an operational model; now rarely used

Correct Answer

(1) Natural Language Sentences,Requirements written using numbered sentences in natural language; each sentence should express one requirement
(2) Structured Natural Language,Requirements written in natural language on a standard form or template; each field provides information about an aspect of the requirement
(3) Design Description Languages,Uses a language like a programming language with more abstract features to define an operational model; now rarely used
(4) Graphical Notations,Graphical models supplemented by text annotations used to define functional requirements; UML use case and sequence diagrams are commonly used
(5) Mathematical Specifications,Notations based on mathematical concepts such as finite-state machines or sets; unambiguous but customers often cannot understand them

Explanation

The five notations are: Natural language (numbered sentences, most common), Structured natural language (standard templates/forms), Design description languages (like programming languages, now rarely used), Graphical notations (UML, widely used), and Mathematical specifications (formal, unambiguous, but rarely accepted by customers).

Reference

Software Engineering, Ian Sommerville, 9th edition

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