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Algorithms solve problems. Wrong answers are not solutions to (i.e. do not solve) a given problem. Hence, algorithm implies that it provides correct answers wit

• baobabKoodaa 5y ago
  The definition of algorithm is wider than you think. As your parent poster noted, "greedy algorithms" exist (as do many other algorithms which provide suboptimal answers). You can easily verify this by googling.
• theteapot 5y ago
  Disagree. We see this phenomena all the time: Right solution, bad input data. Right solution, wrong problem. Worlds turned to grey goo by replicators working to some technically correct algorithm.
  • swiley 5y ago
    These will never give the right solution, only something close.
• TeMPOraL 5y ago
  > Hence, algorithm implies that it provides correct answers within the parameters of the problem. And so they always do. The problem that an algorithm solves is defined by the algorithm itself. The purpose of a system is what it does[0]. Algorithms are useful to solve problems for us - the trick is always in making sure that the problem the algorithm solves is the one we want. -- [0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_purpose_of_a_system_is_what_it_does https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_purpose_of_a_system_is_wha...
  • formerly_proven 5y ago
    That's a bingo.