ITPEC IP April 2023 Question 8

Topic: Algorithm and ProgrammingAlso asked in March 2018 and Spring 2020

Algorithms are important when a computer is used. Which of the following is an appropriate explanation of an algorithm?

Explanation

A processing procedure for enabling a computer to accomplish a particular purpose — an algorithm is the method, a finite sequence of well-defined steps.

An algorithm states what steps to take, and in what order, to turn the input into the required result. It can be drawn as a flowchart or written as pseudocode and exists before and independently of any program; a program implements it in a programming language.

Answer (b)

Why not others:

  • •(a) — describes a compiler, which translates a source program into machine language
  • •(c) — describes programming languages, the artificial languages in which algorithms are written for a computer
  • •(d) — describes CAD (Computer Aided Design)

Key rule: The algorithm is the procedure; the programming language expresses it, and the compiler translates the resulting program into machine language.

Algorithm and Programming · AI-written, may contain errors

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