The Algorithm
Institute for Personal Robots in Education
(IPRE)
CS 1 with Robots
The Algorithm
Algorithm:
n. A finite set of unambiguous instructions
performed in a prescribed sequence to
achieveagoal- The American Heritage Science Dictionary
Aug 20 2007
The Algorithm
Al-Khwarizmi was a Persian
mathematician who wrote a
book on calculating with Hindu
numerals in the 9th century A.D.
When translated to Latin, a
pluralized form of his name
(algorismus) became
synonymous with a system of
calculation.
Aug 20 2007
Pizza Dough Recipe (Algorithm)
1. Gather Ingredients
2. Combine sugar (1tbs), salt
(1tbs), olive oil (1tbs), flour (1c)
in mixing bowl
3. Turn on mixer
4. Add 1/4 cup of flour
5. If dough comes off the sides go
to step 6, otherwise go back to
step 4
6. Knead 15 minutes
7. Let rest for at least 45 minutes in
warm area
Aug 20 2007
1 dough ball
N-Pizza Dough Algorithm
Gather Ingredients
Combine sugar (N tbs), salt (N
tbs), olive oil (N tbs), flour (N c)
in mixing bowl
Turn on mixer
Add N/4 cup of flour
If dough comes off the sides
go to step 6, otherwise go back
to step 4
Knead 15 minutes
Let rest for at least 45 minutes
in warm area
Aug 20 2007
N dough balls
N-Pizza Dough Algorithm
Gather Ingredients
Combine sugar (N tbs), salt (N
tbs), olive oil (N tbs), flour (N c)
in mixing bowl
Turn on mixer
Add N/4 cup of flour
If dough comes off the sides
go to step 6, otherwise go back
to step 4
Knead 15 minutes
Let rest for at least 45 minutes
in warm area
Aug 20 2007
Sequence of
Statements
N dough balls
N-Pizza Dough Algorithm
Gather Ingredients
Combine sugar (N tbs), salt (N
tbs), olive oil (N tbs), flour (N c)
in mixing bowl
Turn on mixer
Add N/4 cup of flour
If dough comes off the sides
go to step 6, otherwise go back
to step 4
Knead 15 minutes
Let rest for at least 45 minutes
in warm area
Aug 20 2007
Variable
N dough balls
N-Pizza Dough - Algorithm
Gather Ingredients
Combine sugar (N tbs), salt (N
tbs), olive oil (N tbs), flour (N c)
in mixing bowl
Turn on mixer
Add N/4 cup of flour
If dough comes off the sides
go to step 6, otherwise go back
to step 4
Knead 15 minutes
Let rest for at least 45 minutes
in warm area
Aug 20 2007
Conditional
N-Pizza Dough - Algorithm
Gather Ingredients
Combine sugar (N tbs), salt (N
tbs), olive oil (N tbs), flour (N c)
in mixing bowl
Turn on mixer
Add N/4 cup of flour
If dough comes off the sides
go to step 6,
otherwise go back to step 4
Knead 15 minutes
Let rest for at least 45 minutes
in warm area
Aug 20 2007
Subroutines
Mini-algorithms
N dough balls
Programs - Algorithms at Work
Programs are the way we
communicate with a computer
Specify the algorithm
This class uses the Python
programming language
Rather than pizza dough, we
will use a robot as our favorite
example
Aug 20 2007
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