It is curious and even laughable the fact that a person can stand out in the area of literature, but be lousy when it comes to mathematics. This is a common situation in places of study, and those who take the lead in imparting the knowledge can realize it and attest to it.
It seems that the perfect being is the union of these two poles that, for many, turn out to be opposites.
The truth is that people, and even experts, tend to associate mathematics with the rational. That which is black or white and which is backed by an overwhelming logic. It can be measured, it can be verified and if it is not, then it is discarded.
While lovers of literature take the liberty of expressing their ideas without barriers or taboos. They go against the current, against the thinking of the majority and, therefore, are the object of criticism and ridicule. They are considered corny and flower eaters, true hippies.
The truth is that both extremes are needed to be able to have balance and be a complete being. We cannot discard one part to embrace another. In life it is necessary to be comprehensive as far as knowledge is concerned, since it helps us to be aware of the meaning of some important concepts.
One of these concepts is the algorithm. If you are not very fond of mathematics, surely you will not know what it is about. If you like this area of science, it is likely that you have or manage some basic notions of what it is.
In this short article a concept about it will be given. In addition, its importance and its main characteristics will be discussed. Let’s see it right now.
Instructions
Defining what an algorithm is can be a very complicated task. However, in its simplest form we can say that it is a series of instructions that are used to perform a task or to find the solution to a problem.
These instructions must be defined and ordered in sequence and be finite. This means that they must have a possible solution.
Although algorithms are used in matters related to mathematics, they are also present in computation, logic and other areas related to numbers. In fact, algorithms are used much more than we may think, they are present in every aspect of our lives.
For example, the basic directions for getting from home to the workplace can be thought of as an algorithm.
In fact, many social networks use algorithms to determine which images to show, to whom and at what time. Algorithms have a wide range of uses, and although very few people can understand how each one works, it can be said that their complexity varies greatly.
Now, what are the fundamental characteristics of any algorithm?
- Algorithms must be precise. That is, they must be able to explain the exact order of execution of each of the steps that take place in a given process.
- Another important aspect of algorithms is that they must be perfectly defined. What does this mean? Which, if it’s going to be executed more than twice, should always be able to give the same result.
- You should also know that the algorithm will always be finite. When we use that term we mean that it must finish at some point after being executed. In other words, in order for it to be better understood, it must have a specific number of steps to follow that, after having been carried out, the task must conclude.
- It is important to note that the algorithm must also be readable. That is, the text that it describes must be clear and precise, so that when it is read, it can be understood immediately. The fancy words and the overly complex procedures have nothing to do with the algorithms.
- Finally, we must say that an algorithm is divided into three parts: input, process and output.
What else do you need to know about algorithms? We will see in the next subtitle. You can’t stop reading it!
What do you need:
In the previous part it was said that the algorithms are divided into three fundamental parts that are: input, process and output. Next, we will be seeing what each of them is about.
- The input: in this phase of the algorithm, it receives all the necessary information to be able to offer a certain result. This initial process deals with feeding the algorithm.
- The process: as its name indicates, at this stage, the algorithm is in charge of processing the information that will be used to carry out any task that has been indicated to it.
- The output: this is the last step. In it, you can see the results of the operation that has been carried out. That is, it is about the transformation or materialization of the data that was entered and processed in the previous phases.
Although the algorithms that are used in daily life are important, so are the computational ones. Its characteristics are also very specific:
- They must have a sequence of steps. In addition, these steps must be independent of each other and well defined.
- Moreover, they must be operated by an agent. This agent can be human and, in other cases, it can be the program itself. Which has the objective of enforcing each of the stages of the process at a certain time.
- In turn, this agent must have the ability to interpret the operational instructions that have been given and store them.
- The result obtained must always behave the same when the different operations of the program are carried out.
- And these operations should always end with a concise and precise result.
Sure you would like to be able to create your own algorithms, how can you do it? Let’s see the following tips.
Tips
You may find this to be very complicated. However, you will be surprised how simple it can be. Since you only have to determine which task will be executed and how you can solve it. Therefore, you must follow a series of steps:
- The first thing we must do is analyze, in advance, the problem that arose or the need to be covered.
- After that, you must define what the requirements are. This includes defining the problem, breaking it down, and being aware of all the escalations that could arise.
- The next thing will be to identify the modules. This will be useful to simplify the steps that the algorithm will follow.
- Then will come the creation of the algorithm as such. At this stage we must make sure that it meets all the necessary requirements to execute the function that has been assigned to it.
- Then you will have to implement the algorithm. In the case of computational algorithms, this is done when it translates itself into a programming language, so that any computer can interpret its instructions without complication.
- Finally, the tools that will be used to carry out an algorithm must be created. Regarding computational algorithms, we can develop an application that has a series of instructions to be able to represent the algorithm that we have designed and in this way be able to offer the solution to the need that we have established as a task.
If it is an algorithm that is not computational, we only have to take into account the steps that the algorithm must follow to perform the task, such as a production line.
As we have seen, the world of the algorithm turns out to be fascinating, when you understand it well. In fact, it can turn out to be very useful in life.