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more about algorithm
algorithm |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Algorism \Al"go*rism\, Algorithm \Al"go*rithm\, n. [OE. algorism, algrim augrim, OF algorisme F. algorithme (cf. Sp algoritmo OSp. alguarismo LL algorismus), fr the Ar al-Khow[=a]rezm[=i] of Khow[=a]rezm, the modern Khiwa surname of Abu Ja'far Mohammed ben Mus[=a], author of a work on arithmetic early in the 9th century, which was translated into Latin, such books bearing the name algorismus The spelling with th is due to a supposed connection with Gr ? number.] 1. The art of calculating by nine figures and zero. 2. The art of calculating with any species of notation; as the algorithms of fractions, proportions, surds, etc From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: algorithm n : a precise rule (or set of rules) specifying how to solve some problem [syn: {algorithmic rule}, {algorithmic program}] From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: algorithmA detailed sequence of actions to perform to accomplish some task. Named after an Iranian mathematician, Al-Khawarizmi. Technically, an algorithm must reach a result after a {finite} number of steps, thus ruling out {brute force} search methods for certain problems, though some might claim that brute force search was also a valid (generic) algorithm. The term is also used loosely for any sequence of actions (which may or may not terminate). {Dictionary of Algorithms, Data Structures, and Problems (http://hissa.nist.gov/dads/terms.html)}. (2000-10-13)
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