What is an algorithm? How computers know what to do with data - Deepstash
What is an algorithm? How computers know what to do with data

What is an algorithm? How computers know what to do with data

Curated from: theconversation.com

Ideas, facts & insights covering these topics:

5 ideas

·

3.65K reads

17

1

Explore the World's Best Ideas

Join today and uncover 100+ curated journeys from 50+ topics. Unlock access to our mobile app with extensive features.

An algorithm is a set of instructions

An algorithm is a set of instructions

The instructions tell a computer how to transform a set of facts into useful information.

The facts are data. The useful information is knowledge for people, instructions for machines or input for another algorithm. Typical examples are sorting sets of numbers or finding routes through maps.

123

990 reads

Algorithms: The Input

To a computer, input is the information needed to make decisions.

For example, if you get dressed, you will need information such as what clothes are available to you, then you might consider the temperature, the season, and personal preferences.

104

613 reads

Algorithms: Transformation

Computation is the heart of an algorithm and involves arithmetic, decision-making, and repetition.

To apply this to getting dressed, you make decisions by doing some math on input quantities. Wearing a jacket might depend on the temperature. To a computer, part of getting dressed algorithm would be "if it is below 50 degrees and raining, then pick the rain jacket and a long-sleeved shirt."

101

507 reads

Algorithms: Output

The last step of an algorithm is output - expressing the answer.

Output to a computer is usually more data. It allows computers to string algorithms together in complex ways to produce more algorithms. Output can also present information, such as putting words on a screen.

101

507 reads

Machine learning

It can sometimes be too complicated to spell out a decision-making process. Machine learning tries to "learn" based on a set of past decision-making examples.

Machine learning is used for things like recommendations, predictions, and looking up information.

112

1.03K reads

IDEAS CURATED BY

jackh

Never stop learning new things, no matter how old you are.

Jack 's ideas are part of this journey:

How To Become a Better Decision-Maker

Learn more about problemsolving with this collection

Understanding the importance of decision-making

Identifying biases that affect decision-making

Analyzing the potential outcomes of a decision

Related collections

Read & Learn

20x Faster

without
deepstash

with
deepstash

with

deepstash

Personalized microlearning

100+ Learning Journeys

Access to 200,000+ ideas

Access to the mobile app

Unlimited idea saving

Unlimited history

Unlimited listening to ideas

Downloading & offline access

Supercharge your mind with one idea per day

Enter your email and spend 1 minute every day to learn something new.

Email

I agree to receive email updates