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| From | Udyant Wig <udyantw@gmail.com> |
|---|---|
| Newsgroups | comp.lang.c |
| Subject | Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... |
| Date | 2015-12-14 11:49 +0530 |
| Organization | A noiseless patient Spider |
| Message-ID | <87twnl1rig.fsf@gmail.com> (permalink) |
| References | (6 earlier) <n4k8m2$s45$1@dont-email.me> <209085bf-79df-4914-b393-8034eec2235a@googlegroups.com> <7dccf87d-baf7-46c3-8caa-a359d11f65f4@googlegroups.com> <c71efec2-e460-4342-9cf7-c360f9a716ec@googlegroups.com> <n4kh68$vrs$1@dont-email.me> |
As basic sanity checks, I perused two books I had that I knew carried
definitions of algorithms and offered overviews of the general concept
of an algorithm.
Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> writes:
[snip]
> It is perhaps in order to reflect on what an algorithm actually is.
>
> Following Knuth, we can define an algorithm as follows:
>
> An algorithm is a finite set of rules that gives a sequence of
> operations for solving a specific type of problem, and having the
> following characteristics:
>
> 1) Finiteness - an algorithm must always terminate after a finite
> number of steps.
> 2) Definiteness - each step of an algorithm must be precisely defined.
> 3) Input - an algorithm has zero or more inputs, quantities that are
> given to it initially before the algorithm begins, or dynamically as
> the algorithm runs.
> 4) Output - an algorithm has one or more outputs: quantities that have
> a specified relation to the inputs.
> 5) Effectiveness - an algorithm is also generally expected to be
> effective, in the sense that its operations must all be sufficiently
> basic that they can in principle be done exactly and in a finite
> length of time by someone using pencil and paper.
CLRS, on their part, echo much the same, saying:
Informally, an _algorithm_ is any well-defined computational
procedure that takes some value, or set of values, as _input_ and
produces some value, or set of values, as _output_. An algorithm is
thus a sequence of computational steps that transform the input into
the output.
We can also view an algorithm as a tool for solving a well-specified
_computational_problem_. The statement of the problem specifies in
general terms the desired input/output relationship. The algorithm
describes a specific computational procedure for achieving that
input/output relationship.
However, a book by Vladimir Uspensky on Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem
says:
... we shall only need the most general intuitive idea of what an
_algorithm_ is: a set of instructions which, given in _input_ (also
called the _initial_data_ or the _argument_) form some set of
_possible_inputs_ (for the given algorithm), enables us to obtain an
_output_ if such an output exists or else obtain nothing at all if
there is no output for our particular input. Notice that the set of
possible inputs consists of all inputs to which the algorithm can be
applied, not only those for which the algorithm gives an output. If
there is an output for a particular input, then we say that the
algorithm can be _applied_ to this input and _processes_ it to give
the corresponding output.
I was unaware of this broader definition until I read it in Uspensky's
book.
--
Udyant Wig
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Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-09 05:00 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-12-09 05:13 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-09 05:17 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-09 13:29 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-09 06:54 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-09 15:45 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-09 08:39 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-12-09 08:38 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-09 19:09 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-09 07:07 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-09 09:40 -0600
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Udyant Wig <udyantw@gmail.com> - 2015-12-10 18:12 +0530
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-10 07:47 -0600
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-12-09 08:29 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-14 08:23 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-14 16:55 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2015-12-14 12:17 -0500
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2015-12-14 13:26 -0500
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-14 19:20 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-12-14 12:54 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-14 21:01 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-12-14 21:36 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-12-14 21:26 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-14 21:40 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2015-12-14 16:42 -0500
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-12-14 21:49 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2015-12-14 17:25 -0500
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-12-14 16:18 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2015-12-14 20:24 -0500
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-14 16:04 -0600
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-12-14 11:07 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... G G <gdotone@gmail.com> - 2015-12-15 09:51 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-09 08:26 -0600
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-09 06:57 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... G G <gdotone@gmail.com> - 2015-12-09 08:06 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-09 08:30 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... G G <gdotone@gmail.com> - 2015-12-09 09:45 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Vécu BOSSEUR <vecu.bosseur@gmail.com> - 2015-12-10 12:44 +0100
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-12-10 08:38 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Vécu BOSSEUR <vecu.bosseur@gmail.com> - 2015-12-11 22:02 +0100
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-12-11 15:23 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Vécu BOSSEUR <vecu.bosseur@gmail.com> - 2015-12-12 12:05 +0100
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-12-12 07:00 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-12-12 10:40 -0500
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-12-12 11:34 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-11 00:43 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-11 09:51 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-11 03:14 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-11 11:55 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-11 10:15 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-13 05:20 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-12-13 05:59 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2015-12-13 11:24 -0500
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-12-13 19:29 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2015-12-13 17:47 -0500
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-12-13 20:43 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-13 17:10 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-12-13 13:00 -0500
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-13 18:25 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-13 10:04 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-12-13 10:29 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-13 10:43 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-13 19:35 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Udyant Wig <udyantw@gmail.com> - 2015-12-14 11:49 +0530
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-12-14 12:34 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-12-14 14:38 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-12-14 15:09 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-12-14 05:24 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-12-14 13:07 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-12-13 13:42 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-13 22:14 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-12-11 09:51 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-11 10:15 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-12-12 20:42 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-12-12 18:10 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-12-13 11:16 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-12-13 03:41 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-12-14 01:43 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-12-14 01:41 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-12-11 18:45 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-12-11 12:34 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-12-11 13:18 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... raltbos@xs4all.nl (Richard Bos) - 2015-12-15 17:48 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-12-15 10:58 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... raltbos@xs4all.nl (Richard Bos) - 2015-12-17 00:14 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-12-11 09:53 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-11 10:20 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-12-11 12:40 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-12-11 02:01 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-12-11 10:18 +0000
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-12-11 03:02 -0800
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... "Osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2015-12-11 08:13 -0600
Re: Program to compute the amount of bottles of water... "Skybuck Flying" <skybuck2000@hotmail.com> - 2015-12-11 11:09 +0100
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