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Algorism

The words algorithm, algorism, and algorist derive from the name of the 9th century Persian mathematician al-Khowarazmi. His book on the Hindu-Arabic numeral system was influential in introducing these concepts to Europe. Over time, the word "algorism" came to refer to the decimal numeration system. It evolved into the modern word "algorithm" which refers to a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or completing a task, with a definite start and end, and finite steps. Common examples include recipes, diagnostic procedures, and computer programs.

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163 views2 pages

Algorism

The words algorithm, algorism, and algorist derive from the name of the 9th century Persian mathematician al-Khowarazmi. His book on the Hindu-Arabic numeral system was influential in introducing these concepts to Europe. Over time, the word "algorism" came to refer to the decimal numeration system. It evolved into the modern word "algorithm" which refers to a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or completing a task, with a definite start and end, and finite steps. Common examples include recipes, diagnostic procedures, and computer programs.

Uploaded by

Jo Mack
Copyright
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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algorism (noun), algorithm (noun), algorist (noun): these words come from the nowquite-distorted name of a person, Ja'far

Mohammed Ben Musa, who was known as alKhowarazmi, meaning "the man from Khwarazm." (In a similar way, Leonardo da Vinci was actually Leonard, a man from the town of Vinci). Around the year 825 alKhowarazmi wrote an arithmetic book explaining how to use the Hindu-Arabic numerals. That book was later translated for Europeans and appeared with the Latin title Liber Algorismi, meaning "Book of al-Khowarazmi." As a consequence, the term algorism came to refer to the decimal system of numeration. Any use or manipulation of Arabic numerals - especially a pattern used to add, subtract, multiply, etc. - was known as analgorism. Arithmetic itself was sometimes called algorism, and in a similar fashion Europeans who advocated the adoption of Hindu-Arabic numerals were known as algorists. Over the centuries the word algorism underwent many changes in form. In Old French it became augorisme, which then developed into the now obsolete Englishaugrim, agrim, and agrum. The current form algorithm exhibits what the Oxford English Dictionary calls a "pseudo-etymological perversion": it got confused with the wordarithmetic (which was one of its meanings, and which has several letters in common with it); the result was the current algorithm. Current dictionaries still list the older form algorism in the sense of "the decimal or Arabic system of numeration."
Step by step procedure designed to perform an operation, and which (like a map or flowchart) will lead to the sought result if followed correctly. Algorithms have a definite beginning and a definite end, and a finite number of steps. An algorithm produces the same output information given the same input information, and several short algorithms can be combined to perform complex tasks such as writing a computer program. A cookbook recipe, a diagnosis, a problem solving routine, are some common examples of simple algorithms. Suitable for solving structured problems (amenable to sequential analysis) algorithms are, however, unsuitable for problems where value judgments are required. See also heuristics and lateral thinking.
Name Symbol Use in Flowchart

Oval

Denotes the beginning or end of the program

Parallelogram

Denotes an input operation

Rectangle

Denotes a process to be carried out e.g. addition, subtraction, division etc.

Diamond

Denotes a decision (or branch) to be made. The program should continue along one of two routes. (e.g. IF/THEN/ELSE)

Hybrid

Denotes an output operation

Flow line

Denotes the direction of logic flow in the program

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