Algorithms

For this topic, we’ll be looking at programming and how it can be used to aid mathematical understanding and problem solving.  Being able to program gives us access to potential solutions and patterns at a far greater scale than doing things by hand, however it itself is an art that requires as much creativity and insight as problem solving does.   Writing algorithms requires similar skills to problem-solving – although planning becomes especially important.  Your understanding of algebra and order of operations will also be very important in problems requiring the coding of calculations.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the section, you should be able to

• Describe the characteristics of an algorithm
• Use the programming application Scratch to create algorithms in order to solve problems