ALGORITHMS

An algorithm is an effective method for solving a problem expressed as a finite sequence of instructions. Each algorithm is a list of well-defined instructions for completing a task. Starting from an initial state, the instructions describe a computation that proceeds through a well-defined series of successive states, eventually terminating in a final ending state. An algorithm is any well defined computational procedure that takes some value or set of values as input and produces some value or set of values as output. An algorithm is thus a sequence of computational steps that transform input into output. We can also review an algorithm as a tool for solving a well specified computational problem. The statement of the problem specifies, in general terms, the desired input/output relation. An algorithm is set to b correct if for instance it halts with the correct output.. An algorithm can b specified in English as a computer program or even as a h/w design. The only requirement is that the specification must provide a precise description of the

Need of algorithms

There can b many solutions to a problem but choosing the best algorithm is the factor on which total system performance depends as much as on the fast hardware.

Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing etc. if we talk about data structures then algorihms are necessary to implement the sorting and searching problems. The human Genome project has the goals of identifying all the 100,000 genes in human DNA, determining the sequence of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA,storing the information in database and developing tools for analysis.Each of these steps require sophisticated algorithms. By doing so, savings are in time, both machine and in money ,as more information can be extracted from the laboratory techniques.

Internet enable people all around the world to quickly access and retrieve large amount of information In order to do so, clever algorithms are employed to manage and manipulate this large volume of data. for example: to find good routes on which data will travel and using a search engine to find some topic.

H/w with high clock rates, pipelining, superscalar architectures. Easy to use, intuitive Graphical user interface. Object oriented systems. LANs and WANs. Even the application that dont rely on algorithmic content also heavily rely on algorithms.. for example : does it rely on h/w? then H/w rely on algorithms. Does it rely on GUI? Then GUI rely on algorithms. Does it rely on n/w? then N/W also rely on the algorithms,i.e.to find the best route to the destination is a task in a n/w that depends upon algorithms. Does the application was written in a language other than machine level language? then it needs interpreter, compiler etc. to run the code. And these in turn depends upon the algorithms.

Thus algorithms are the core of the most technologies used in computers. And to solve a problem in a quicker way without making it complex,algorithms are essential. Furthermore with the ever increasing capacities of computer ,we use them to solve larger problems than ever. And having a solid base of algorithms is 1 characteristics that sepretes truly skilled programmers from novices.