Algorithm Analysis and Design Ch 1

Define algorithm from the book.

An algorithm is a sequence of unambiguous instructions for solving a problem, i.e., for obtaining a required output for any legitimate input in a finite amount of time.

Find other definitions of algorithm from the internet.

a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer a set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process

Explain characteristics of algorithm from the textbook

The non-ambiguity requirement for each step of an algorithm cannot be compromised. The range of inputs for which an algorithm works has to be specified carefully. The same algorithm can be represented in several different ways. There may exist several algorithms for solving the same problem. Algorithms for the same problem can be based on very different ideas and can solve the problem with dramatically different speeds.