ALGORITHM:
The word “algorithm” relates to the name of the mathematician Al-khowarizmi, which means
a procedure or a technique. Software Engineer commonly uses an algorithm for planning
and solving the problems. An algorithm is a sequence of steps to solve a particular problem
or algorithm is an ordered set of unambiguous steps that produces a result and terminates in
a finite time
Algorithm has the following characteristics
• Input: An algorithm may or may not require input
• Output: Each algorithm is expected to produce at least one result
• Definiteness: Each instruction must be clear and unambiguous.
• Finiteness: If the instructions of an algorithm are executed, the algorithm
should terminate after finite number of steps
The algorithm and flowchart include following three types of control structures.
1. Sequence: In the sequence structure, statements are placed one after the other and
the execution takes place starting from up to down.
2. Branching (Selection): In branch control, there is a condition and according to a
condition, a decision of either TRUE or FALSE is achieved. In the case of TRUE, one
of the two branches is explored; but in the case of FALSE condition, the other
alternative is taken. Generally, the ‘IF-THEN’ is used to represent branch control.
3. Loop (Repetition): The Loop or Repetition allows a statement(s) to be executed
repeatedly based on certain loop condition e.g. WHILE, FOR loops.
Advantages of algorithm
• It is a step-wise representation of a solution to a given problem, which makes it easy
to understand.
• An algorithm uses a definite procedure.
• It is not dependent on any programming language, so it is easy to understand for
anyone even without programming knowledge.
• Every step in an algorithm has its own logical sequence so it is easy to debug.
HOW TO WRITE ALGORITHMS
Step 1 Define your algorithms input: Many algorithms take in data to be processed, e.g. to
calculate the area of rectangle input may be the rectangle height and rectangle width.
Step 2 Define the variables: Algorithm's variables allow you to use it for more than one
place. We can define two variables for rectangle height and rectangle width as HEIGHT and
WIDTH (or H & W). We should use meaningful variable name e.g. instead of using H & W
use HEIGHT and WIDTH as variable name.
Step 3 Outline the algorithm's operations: Use input variable for computation purpose,
e.g. to find area of rectangle multiply the HEIGHT and WIDTH variable and store the value in
new variable (say) AREA. An algorithm's operations can take the form of multiple steps and
even branch, depending on the value of the input variables.
Step 4 Output the results of your algorithm's operations: In case of area of rectangle
output will be the value stored in variable AREA. if the input variables described a rectangle
with a HEIGHT of 2 and a WIDTH of 3, the algorithm would output the value of 6.
Algorithm to find the sum of two numbers
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input first numbers say A
Step-3 Input second number say B
Step-4 SUM = A + B
Step-5 Display SUM
Step-6 Stop
Algorithm to find Area and Perimeter of Square
L : Side Length of Square
AREA : Area of Square
PERIMETER : Perimeter of Square
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Side Length of Square say L
Step-3 Area = L x L
Step-4 PERIMETER = 4 x L
Step-5 Display AREA, PERIMETER
Step-6 Stop
Algorithm to find Area and Perimeter of Rectangle
L : Length of Rectangle
B : Breadth of Rectangle
AREA : Area of Rectangle
PERIMETER : Perimeter of Rectangle
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Side Length & Breadth say L, B
Step-3 Area = L x B
Step-4 PERIMETER = 2 x ( L + B)
Step-5 Display AREA, PERIMETER
Step-6 Stop
Algorithm to find the largest of three numbers
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Read three numbers say num1,num2, num3
Step-3 if num1>num2 then go to step-5
Step-4 IF num2>num3 THEN
print num2 is largest
ELSE
print num3 is largest
ENDIF
GO TO Step-6
Step-5 IF num1>num3 THEN
print num1 is largest
ELSE
print num3 is largest
ENDIF
Step-6 Stop
Algorithm to find Even number between 1 to 50
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 I=1
Step-3 IF (I >50) THEN
GO TO Step-7
ENDIF
Step-4 IF ( (I % 2) =0) THEN
Display I
ENDIF
Step-5 I=I+1
Step-6 GO TO Step--3
Step-7 Stop
Algorithm to find Odd numbers between 1 to n where n is a positive
Integer
Algorithm
Step-1 Start
Step-2 Input Value of N
Step-3 I=1
Step-4 IF (I >N) THEN
GO TO Step-8
ENDIF
Step-5 IF ( (I % 2)=1) THEN
Display I
ENDIF
Step-6 I=I+1
Step-7 GO TO Step-4
Step-8 Stop
