n computer programming terms, an algorithm is a set of well-defined instructions to solve a particular problem. It takes a set of input and produces a desired output. For example,
An algorithm to add two numbers:
Take two number inputs
Add numbers using the + operator
Display the result
Qualities of Good Algorithms
Input and output should be defined precisely.
Each step in the algorithm should be clear and unambiguous.
Algorithms should be most effective among many different ways to solve a problem.
An algorithm shouldn't include computer code. Instead, the algorithm should be written in such a way that it can be used in different programming languages.
Algorithm 1: Add two numbers entered by the user
Step 1: Start
Step 2: Declare variables num1, num2 and sum.
Step 3: Read values num1 and num2.
Step 4: Add num1 and num2 and assign the result to sum.
sum←num1+num2
Step 5: Display sum
Step 6: Stop
Algorithm 2: Find the largest number among three numbers
Step 1: Start
Step 2: Declare variables a,b and c.
Step 3: Read variables a,b and c.
Step 4: If a > b
If a > c
Display a is the largest number.
Else
Display c is the largest number.
Else
If b > c
Display b is the largest number.
Else
Display c is the greatest number.
Step 5: Stop
Algorithm 3: Find Root of the quadratic equatin ax2 + bx + c = 0
Step 1: Start
Step 2: Declare variables a, b, c, D, x1, x2, rp and ip;
Step 3: Calculate discriminant
D ← b2-4ac
Step 4: If D ≥ 0
r1 ← (-b+√D)/2a
r2 ← (-b-√D)/2a
Display r1 and r2 as roots.
Else
Calculate real part and imaginary part
rp ← -b/2a
ip ← √(-D)/2a
Display rp+j(ip) and rp-j(ip) as roots
Step 5: Stop
Algorithm 4: Find the factorial of a number
Step 1: Start
Step 2: Declare variables n, factorial and i.
Step 3: Initialize variables
factorial ← 1
i ← 1
Step 4: Read value of n
Step 5: Repeat the steps until i = n
5.1: factorial ← factorial*i
5.2: i ← i+1
Step 6: Display factorial
Step 7: Stop
Algorithm 5: Check whether a number is prime or not
Step 1: Start
Step 2: Declare variables n, i, flag.
Step 3: Initialize variables
flag ← 1
i ← 2
Step 4: Read n from the user.
Step 5: Repeat the steps until i=(n/2)
5.1 If remainder of n÷i equals 0
flag ← 0
Go to step 6
5.2 i ← i+1
Step 6: If flag = 0
Display n is not prime
else
Display n is prime
Step 7: Stop
Algorithm 6: Find the Fibonacci series till the term less than 1000
Step 1: Start
Step 2: Declare variables first_term,second_term and temp.
Step 3: Initialize variables first_term ← 0 second_term ← 1
Step 4: Display first_term and second_term
Step 5: Repeat the steps until second_term ≤ 1000
5.1: temp ← second_term
5.2: second_term ← second_term + first_term
5.3: first_term ← temp
5.4: Display second_term
Step 6: Stop