Question

What is an algorithm?

Short answer

Answer: An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or completing a task, with each step being well-defined and specific. For example, an algorithm for pairing socks involves picking up a sock, finding its match, pairing them, removing the pair from the pile, and repeating the process until no socks are left.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of an Algorithm

An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or completing a task. Each step should be well-defined and perform a specific operation, resulting in the desired outcome. Algorithms can be performed by humans or computed by machines (e.g., computers).

Example of an Algorithm

Consider the following problem: you have a pile of socks that need to be paired. How do you pair them up? Here's a simple algorithm to accomplish this task: 1. Pick up the first sock. 2. Find a matching sock in the pile. 3. Pair the two matching socks together. 4. Remove the pair from the pile. 5. Repeat steps 1-4 until there are no socks left in the pile. This algorithm provides a step-by-step process for pairing socks, helping to simplify the task and make it more manageable.