Final answer:
When you draw a flowchart, you use a parallelogram to represent the input symbol, indicating an input operation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In flowcharting, symbols represent different operations and processes. The parallelogram specifically signifies where input is introduced into the system. It's where data or information from an external source enters the flowchart. For instance, this symbol might stand for user input from a keyboard, a sensor reading, or any data that initiates the process.
Flowcharts serve as visual representations of algorithms or processes, making them easier to understand and follow. The use of standardized symbols like the parallelogram ensures clarity and consistency in communicating how a system operates. By indicating the input symbol with this shape, it prompts the reader to recognize the starting point for information or data within the flow of the process.
So, to represent an input operation in a flowchart, the symbol used is a parallelogram.