ALGORITHM

Algorithm can be defined as a logical sequence of steps that can be followed to solve a particular problem. Most of the things that we do in life involve problem solving.

Example, a student that attends to his/her lectures is solving a problem. Which is the problem of ignorance or failing during examination. A lecturer that teaches his/her student is also solving a problem. Which is the problem of ignorance and failing during examination.

Steps in solving a particular problem:

Every problem that we solve in life has specific sequence of steps that can be used to solve the problem. Therefore, before you can solve a particular problem, you must know the steps to follow to solve that problem.

If you do not know the steps, you cannot actually solve that problem. If you want to solve a problem and you do not know the steps to follow, you can meet someone who knows how to solve that problem and the person will give you the steps.

This means that identifying the sequence of steps that solve a particular problem is an important step towards solving a particular problem.
The next thing that the person who wants to solve a particular problem does is to begin to execute or perform each of the sequence of steps, from the first step to the last step.

The moment you finish executing the sequence of steps, you must have solved the problem.

Computer does the same processes illustrated above in order to solve a particular problem. Computer does not actually know how to solve a particular problem. However, it makes use of the services of someone who must know how to solve that problem.

The person outlines or provides the steps to be followed to solve the problem. That is the first step towards making computer a problem-solving device. The technical term that we use to describe the process of writing sequence of steps that solve a particular problem is designing computer-based algorithm.

Traditional algorithms can be written, using pseudocodes, however, diagrams can be used to express an algorithm. When an algorithm is written using diagram, it can be called flowchart.

Next topic:

Algorithm Development