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

Australia's ban was justified by campaigners and the government as necessary to protect children from harmful online content and algorithms.

From BBC

The team recorded the resulting brain activity and trained the algorithm to sort the signals into different categories.

From Science Daily

The trick is getting those algorithms to work on actual drones in realistic battlefield scenarios, according to Justin Bradley, an expert in aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University who specializes in autonomous systems.

From The Wall Street Journal

The team spent several years making “digital twins” of PPG’s products, mirroring their formulas and attributes, and then embedded algorithms reflecting chemistry principles.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a statement onThursday, the new joint venture said its mandate was "to secure U.S. user data, apps and the algorithm through comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity measures".

From BBC

Related Words

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