algorithm

American  

[al-guh-rith-uhm] / ˈæl gəˌrɪð əm /

noun

1. Mathematics. a set of rules for solving a problem in a finite number of steps, such as the Euclidean algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor.

2. Computers. an ordered set of instructions recursively applied to transform data input into processed data output, such as a mathematical solution, search engine result, descriptive statistics, or predictive text suggestions.

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algorithm British  

/ ˈælɡəˌrɪðəm /

noun

1. a logical arithmetical or computational procedure that if correctly applied ensures the solution of a problem Compare heuristic

2. logic maths a recursive procedure whereby an infinite sequence of terms can be generated

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algorithm Scientific  

/ ăl′gə-rĭth′əm /

1. A finite set of unambiguous instructions performed in a prescribed sequence to achieve a goal, especially a mathematical rule or procedure used to compute a desired result. Algorithms are the basis for most computer programming.

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algorithm Cultural  

1. A set of instructions for solving a problem, especially on a computer. An algorithm for finding your total grocery bill, for example, would direct you to add up the costs of individual items to find the total.

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Usage

What is an algorithm? An algorithm is a set of instructions or rules that can be followed to solve a problem.Algorithms are most commonly used in mathematics and computing, and they can often be very complex or have many steps or sets of instructions.For example, your teacher asks you to add 537 and 162. You might solve the problem by lining up 162 under 537 and adding the columns of numbers together. You add the 7 and 2 in the ones column to get 9, Next, you add the numbers in the tens column (3 and 6) to get 9. Finally, you add 5 and 1 in the hundreds column and get 6. Your answer, then, is 699. You have followed an addition algorithm to find the solution.In computing, a computer coder will create a set of instructions (the algorithm) that a computer or artificial intelligence will use to solve a problem or will consult in order to achieve a goal. Let’s say you spend the day watching Star Wars videos on YouTube. With each video you watch, the website will recommend other videos it thinks you will like. How does it know what you like? It runs an algorithm that finds videos that are similar to the ones you’ve already watched. If Darth Vader shows up in a video of a car commercial, YouTube will likely recommend it to you to watch because Vader was in a lot of the Star Wars videos you’ve already watched.

Other Word Forms

• algorithmic adjective
• algorithmically adverb

Etymology

Origin of algorithm

First recorded in 1690–1700; variant of algorism ( def. ), by association with Greek arithmós “number”; arithmetic ( def. )

Example Sentences

China has stayed in the game because of strong algorithms, data and energy, but the U.S. leads by exploiting its computing advantage.

From The Wall Street Journal

There is no neat dividing line where you can point to the algorithm on one side and the physical mechanism on the other.

From Science Daily

By operating continuously and using algorithms to anticipate rider demand, a robotaxi fleet could drastically increase vehicle utilization, reducing the number of cars on the road and subsequently congestion and pollution, Chi told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch

Then they examined a dozen characteristics and used a machine-learning algorithm to help pinpoint moments of significant change in the data.

From The Wall Street Journal

I want the algorithm to stop serving me fake videos of cats playing the trombone at 4 a.m. just because I always click on fake videos of cats playing the trombone at 4 a.m.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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