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> I teach introductory programming to college freshmen. We usually spend the first few classes talking about, writing, and refining algorithms in clear and simp
by NAFV_P 12y ago
> I teach introductory programming to college freshmen. We usually spend the first few classes talking about, writing, and refining algorithms in clear and simple English before we even start talking about the programming language they're to learn.
Explaining algorithms to someone in clear and simple English will enable them to understand those algorithms, but a computer does not understand English. To 'write' an algorithm for a computer to perform, you need to code.
- owlish 12y agoThere seems to be a misunderstanding of the word algorithm here. "Algorithm" refers to a set of instructions/operations that do not necessarily occur on a computer. You may know non-computer algorithms as "routines" or "procedures".
- NAFV_P 12y ago> There seems to be a misunderstanding of the word algorithm here. I can assure you there is none , the misunderstanding is with my original comment: 'writing an algorithm'. > You may know non-computer algorithms as "routines" or "procedures". Like the algorithm "make a nice, hot cup of coffee", which is executed billions of times each day by biological computers known as humans. EDIT: wrt my naff spelling.