Can you tell me what an algorithm is in simple terms?

Question

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

You know what a recipe is, right? A recipe is a set of instructions for creating a meal.

Well, a recipe is an algorithm, in a sense, for cooking.

More generally, in lay terms, an algorithm is a process or set of steps for determining something. Mathematicians and computer scientists may be a bit more anal retentive in their definitions and they're not wrong, but I am just trying to give you an idea.

Here's an example of a commonly taught root-finding algorithm in mathematics...

Let's say you have to figure out the square root of 5 but you don't have a calculator to tell you. You don't need to figure it out to a large number of digits, but just get in the ballpark.

What we are looking for is a number, x, which, when multiplied by itself, is 5. That is x*x = x^2 = "x squared" = 5.

OK, well, first we know that:
2*2 = 2^2 = "2 squared" = 4
and
3*3 = 3^2 = "3 squared" = 9.

So, right away, since 5 is between 4 and 9, x is going to be between 2 and 3. We don't know x yet, but we do know it's between 2 and 3... We can write that like this:

2 < x < 3

OK, now, let's take a guess... We'll "split the difference" and guess that x is 2.5. So, now we have to compute x^2 = x*x. Well, 2.5 * 2.5 is 6.25 and that's bigger than 5. So, now we know something new: x is still greater than 2, but, since 6.25 > 5, x is going to be less than 2.5. We can write that like this:

2 < x < 2.5

Notice what happened here... We still don't know what x is, but originally, our uncertainty of x was 1 (because 3-2 = 1). Now, our uncertainty is only 0.5 (because 2.5-2=0.5). That's 1/2 of the uncertainty we had before! This means we are getting closer to what x actually is...

Let's try it again: "Split the difference" and guess that x is now 2.25 because 2.25 is right in the middle between 2 and 2.5 [and, in fact, 2.25 = (2+2.5)/2; that's how you find the middle].

So, now we have to compute x^2 = x*x. Well, 2.25 * 2.25 is 5.0625 and that's still bigger than 5 but, wow, that's really close to 5. So, now we know something new: x is still greater than 2, but, since 5.0625 > 5, x is going to be less than 2.25. We can write that like this:

2 < x < 2.25

Now, our uncertainty is only 0.25 (because 2.25-2=0.25). That's 1/2 of the uncertainty we had last time and 1/4 of the uncertainty we started with! This means we are getting even closer to what x actually is...

Let's try it one last time: "Split the difference" and guess that x is now 2.125 because 2.125 is right in the middle between 2 and 2.25 [Notice: 2.125 = (2+2.25)/2].

So, now we have to compute x^2 = x*x. Well, 2.125 * 2.125 is 4.515625 and that's less than 5 but greater than 4. So, now we know something new: x is still greater than 2.125 but still less than 2.25. We can write that like this:

2.125 < x < 2.25

OK, I am going to stop for now, but let's take a look at what we've got:

x is the square root of 5, so x^2 = x*x = 5.

We don't know what x is exactly, but we do know that 2.125 < x < 2.25 and, if we square each term, we get:

2.125^2 < x^2 < 2.25^2 which is the same as:

4.515625 < 5 < 5.0625

So, we got pretty close. Since 5.0625 is a lot closer to 5 than 4.515625, we expect that x, the square root of 5, is going to be closer to 2.25 than to 2.125, but that's intuition.

For completeness, this is the square root of 5, x: 2.236067 < x < 2.236068

OK, so what I just illustrated is something called "The Bisection Algorithm". It is a mathematical way to determine the roots of equations. A root of an equation is the value the variable takes when the value on one side of the equation = 0. So, in our example, the equation was x^2 - 5 = 0.

The bisection algorithm isn't always the best algorithm. In fact, I could teach you another one I learned in grade school that they don't teach anymore. It's faster and gets all of the digits exactly. But, that's not the point...

I'm not going to give a general description of the bisection algorithm because you can use an AI to teach you it.

What is important is that I used a series of steps in a specific way that was leading me to an answer that I wanted to know. In principle, if you continued doing the algorithm, it will converge to the true answer.

Now, that's math. In things like AI, it's really no different. The mathematics is just a lot more complex. For instance, YouTube or Facebook or Google have algorithms which compute what they believe you want to see or be interested in next and they determine this based on your past behavior. For instance, in YouTube, if you look up "crock pot recipes", it will show you videos of crock pot recipes. But suppose you keep clicking on and watching the ones related to soups and not the ones related to chili or roasts or whatever... Then the algorithms will start giving you more and more crock pot soup recipe videos and less and less roast or chili videos... How the algorithms work, I can't say exactly, but they give a measure of likely interest in things and update this based on what you've indicated you've expressed an interest in so far.

I hope this wasn't too confusing...

Zack-Bann · Accepted Answer

It’s the rhythm on which we dance the “algo” 🙃

Just kidding it’s just the step by step process that can repeated endlessly with expected outcomes based on specific input

It’s not necessarily an IT thing you can have a human work line algorithm that woke with the same logic

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

It's a set of instructions aimed to be a solution to a task. What's special is that it's step by step. So first do this, then do that. If X, Y or Z happens then do this, if not do something else.

Want to solve a rubix cube? You can turn the squares in a certain pattern that's garuenteed to eventually solve it. That's a simple algorithm.

A complex one might be setting a key for software. So you buy software and get a free trial but you need to buy a key to make keep it. The key might be based on your computer and the company generates a key based on an algorithm that takes these extra factors into account. That's a more intermediate algorithm.

An advanced one might be the code that runs Google search. So you type in "how to make an apple pie" and maybe the algorithm first breaks the sentence down into something that is easier to search and then it filters or ranks the results.

But the building blocks are:

Sequence: step by step aspect

Selection: what is referred to sometimes as (if/then) logic

Iteration: the idea you continue doing the steps over again until the task is inturrepted or completed

OneViewpoint · Answer

An Algorithm is just a defined process. Algorithms are a collection of individually simple rules / logic tests that can be combined into complex sets that collectively become an algorithm or process. The rules can be as simple as a yes/no binary test or they can involve math and statistics in the test or the branching to subsequent tests in the algorithm.

The term algorithm is often used in computer coding today but algorithms have existed since long before computers and coding languages ever existed.

NathanDavis · Answer

simply put... algorithms are markers ideally, a simple set or list of markers that... when identified and check, will trigger an action responding to it if most, any or all items in the list of markers are identified... a certain thing will happen, or not happen...  for example... that's how and why many questions here at G@G are ~automatically~ categorized as Sexuality Topic... if anywhere in the question, certain words or terms are used... the kinkygorithm will be acting up and moving your question about food, or health... into the realms of G@Gxuality, lol

Tarifa · Answer

It's a set of logical instructions to solve a problem or process data. It's usually done with lots of data and much quicker than what a human being could achieve.

The condition though is that every instruction has to be carefully considered and that there are no bugs in the code, i. e. situations that haven't been considered. That would cause the algorithm to freeze up. In this case, it lacks a specific instruction to carry out the rest of the tasks.

Master_Debator · Answer

Think of it as a simple formula that equals the same results most of the time.

Pick up artists using the same tired lines on girls to get laid... Algorithm.

Using that tried and true cheat code on a video game... Algorithem.

Basically if you do this and that, expect this to happen. The world is full of algorithems..

Can you tell me what an algorithm is in simple terms?

FreyaRed · Answer

Mathematical functions. You give some numbers as input and it comes some number as output depending on algorithm
In programming it's a little bit different. There are gates, counters, memories... you can build a logical algorithm/function with that. However you have inputs and outputs there as well.

zagor · Answer

It is a set of steps to accomplish a certain goal. In the sense of a social media feed, it is a process used to determine what you are likely to be interested in based on what you have looked at before, by tracking the characteristics of those posts and looking for posts with similar characteristics.

msc545 · Answer

An algorithm is simply a clear set of step-by-step instructions for solving a problem or completing a task.

Think of it like a recipe in cooking. 🍳
A recipe tells you exactly what to do in order:

Preheat the oven
Mix ingredients
Put the mixture in a pan
Bake for 30 minutes
If you follow those steps correctly, you get the intended result. That sequence of instructions is an algorithm.

Friendlybro79 · Answer

It's actually an abbreviation for my friend AL (capitalized the L so it didn't look like ai) AL got rhythm. You should see this guy on the dance floor.

permanentem · Answer

Algorithm is a mathematical process for solving a problem not to be confused with an AlGoreithm which is when you tell the world to buy scuba gear because the entire planet will be under water in 10 years.

MontBlanc · Answer

An algorithm is basically a set of step by step instructions to solve a problem or get a specific result, kind of like a recipe, but for computers or tasks.

Shiprex · Answer

It's a control mechanism that is built into browsing software that recognises particular traits of your history that can guide you to specific spaces online that "match" your browsing profile

jazzy34 · Answer

It's a system that shows you the content you want to see. For example, on Facebook, the more makeup tutorial videos you "like" or react to, the more makeup tutorial videos you will see.

Nikki1989 · Answer

You can think of it like a recipe: ingredients = inputs, instructions = steps, and finished dish = output.

purplepoppy · Answer

It's a computer program that acts like a flowchart.

Still-alive · Answer

"oh hey i see you like that cat video? Well here's 1 million more cat videos for you to watch!"

RavVid · Answer

It is just a set of rules to perform a process. Mostly used in terms of programs but not required to be a program

DryGermanGuy · Answer

It takes some input data, munches around on it and then creates some output data.

Phoenix98 · Answer

An algorithm is a precise, step-by-step set of instructions or rules followed to solve a specific problem or accomplish a task.

KBird · Answer

It is a step-by-step set of instructions to solve a problem or complete a task.

goaded · Answer

It's a set of instructions for a computer to follow. Like a recipe is to a cook.

LC75LC71 · Answer

A bullshit way to say "You're not going to show up" It's all good here though because the user count is so low, there's no point.

CaptainSmartass · Answer

It's like a recipe, but for making your computer do stuff. Simples...

exitseven · Answer

an algorithm is a set of instructions to perform a task over and over again.

Paige2006 · Answer

Like a pattern of your likes and dislikes

Cidknee · Answer

It recognizes certain aspects rolling through.

Anonymous · Answer

The way a platform is programmed

MikeMcMansion · Answer

1 + x =2 x=1

Zionne · Answer

pattern

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

01010101

Can you tell me what an algorithm is in simple terms?

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