- Introduction
- Computer Algorithms
- Video
- Activity 1
- Activity 2
- Resources
Introduction
What is an algorithm?
An algorithm is a set of unambiguous, step-by-step instructions used to solve a problem. They are used by both human beings and computers.
For example, imagine you have a bag of colored blocks, and you want to find a specific block, let’s say a blue block, in the bag. Here’s a simple algorithm you can follow:
- Take out one block from the bag.
- Check if the block is blue.
- If it is blue, you found the block! Yay! Stop searching.
- If it’s not blue, put the block aside and go back to step 1.
- Repeat steps 1-4 until you find the blue block.
In this example, the algorithm is a series of steps that helps you find the blue block. You repeat the steps until you find what you’re looking for.
Computers are really good at following algorithms, even much more complex ones. They can solve problems much faster than humans because they can follow instructions very quickly.
Algorithms for Humans
Common examples of algorithms for humans include:
Fire evacuation Procedures
Cooking Recipes
Furniture assembly instructions
Washing Machine Usage Instrucitons
