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Algorithm

Algorithm is a set of step-by-step rules a computer follows to solve a problem or make a choice.

Think of it this way

A recipe card is a set of steps you follow in order. First you measure the flour, then you add eggs, then you mix. Each step depends on the one before it. A computer algorithm works the same way — a fixed list of steps run in order to reach a result.

Explaining algorithm by grade level

Think about tic-tac-toe. You follow rules to pick where to place your mark. A computer does the same thing. It checks each empty spot, one by one, and picks the best move using its own set of rules.

Projects that explore algorithm

Unbeatable Tic-Tac-Toe in MATLAB

An algorithm is a set of step-by-step rules a computer follows to solve a problem. In this experiment, roughly 300 if-then statements form the core logic of a smart player written in MATLAB. Each statement counters a specific move that could lead to a loss — so when the random player places a mark, the smart player already has a response. Against 10,000 random-player games, the smart player won 80 percent and tied the rest. It never lost.

Hard