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Computer Science Unit 10 notes

  • Problem: a general description of a task that can (or cannot) be solved with an algorithm

  • Algorithm: a finite set of instructions that accomplish a task.

  • Sequencing: putting steps in an order.

  • Selection: deciding which steps to do next.

  • Iteration: doing some steps over and over

  • Efficiency:  a measure of how many steps are needed to complete an algorithm

  • Linear Search: a search algorithm which checks each element of a list, in order, until the desired value is found or all elements in the list have been checked.

  • Binary Search: a search algorithm that starts at the middle of a sorted set of numbers and removes half of the data; this process repeats until the desired value is found or all elements have been eliminated.

  • Reasonable Time: Algorithms with a polynomial efficiency or lower (constant, linear, square, cube, etc.) are said to run in a reasonable amount of time. 

  • Unreasonable Time: Algorithms with exponential or factorial efficiencies are examples of algorithms that run in an unreasonable amount of time. 

  • Heuristic: provides a "good enough" solution to a problem when an actual solution is impractical or impossible

  • Decision Problem: a problem with a yes/no answer  (e.g., is there a path from A to B?)

  • Optimization Problem: a problem with the goal of finding the "best" solution among many (e.g., what is the shortest path from A to B?)

  • Undecidable Problem: a problem for which no algorithm can be constructed that is always capable of providing a correct yes-or-no answer

  • Sequential Computing: a model in which programs run in order, one command at a time.

  • Parallel Computing: a model in which programs are broken into small pieces, some of which are run simultaneously

  • Distributed Computing: a model in which programs are run by multiple devices

  • Speedup: the time used to complete a task sequentially divided by the time to complete a task in parallel

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Computer Science Unit 10 notes

  • Problem: a general description of a task that can (or cannot) be solved with an algorithm

  • Algorithm: a finite set of instructions that accomplish a task.

  • Sequencing: putting steps in an order.

  • Selection: deciding which steps to do next.

  • Iteration: doing some steps over and over

  • Efficiency:  a measure of how many steps are needed to complete an algorithm

  • Linear Search: a search algorithm which checks each element of a list, in order, until the desired value is found or all elements in the list have been checked.

  • Binary Search: a search algorithm that starts at the middle of a sorted set of numbers and removes half of the data; this process repeats until the desired value is found or all elements have been eliminated.

  • Reasonable Time: Algorithms with a polynomial efficiency or lower (constant, linear, square, cube, etc.) are said to run in a reasonable amount of time. 

  • Unreasonable Time: Algorithms with exponential or factorial efficiencies are examples of algorithms that run in an unreasonable amount of time. 

  • Heuristic: provides a "good enough" solution to a problem when an actual solution is impractical or impossible

  • Decision Problem: a problem with a yes/no answer  (e.g., is there a path from A to B?)

  • Optimization Problem: a problem with the goal of finding the "best" solution among many (e.g., what is the shortest path from A to B?)

  • Undecidable Problem: a problem for which no algorithm can be constructed that is always capable of providing a correct yes-or-no answer

  • Sequential Computing: a model in which programs run in order, one command at a time.

  • Parallel Computing: a model in which programs are broken into small pieces, some of which are run simultaneously

  • Distributed Computing: a model in which programs are run by multiple devices

  • Speedup: the time used to complete a task sequentially divided by the time to complete a task in parallel

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