A(n) ______ is a sequence of steps for accomplishing a task.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

An algorithm is a sequence of finite, well-defined steps designed to accomplish a specific task.

1. Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Definition: An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure or set of rules that leads from inputs to a desired output. 
- Characteristics: finite, unambiguous, executable, and terminating (for most algorithmic tasks). 
- Related terms: program (an implementation of one or more algorithms in code), procedure/method (a named routine; less formal), process (broader workflow).

2. Step-by-step reasoning
- The phrase in the sentence, "a sequence of steps for accomplishing a task," matches the standard textbook definition of an algorithm.
- Each word aligns: “sequence of steps” = ordered instructions; “accomplishing a task” = achieving a specific computational or practical goal.

3. Example with intermediate steps (demonstrates the concept)
Example: Find the maximum number in [3, 7, 2, 9, 5].
Step 1: Set max = first element -> max = 3.
Step 2: Compare next element 7 with max: 7 > 3, so max = 7.
Step 3: Compare 2 with max: 2 > 7? No, max stays 7.
Step 4: Compare 9 with max: 9 > 7, so max = 9.
Step 5: Compare 5 with max: 5 > 9? No, max stays 9.
Step 6: Return max = 9.
This ordered list of steps is precisely an algorithm.

4. Why the correct answer is correct
- The blank calls for a term that denotes a defined series of steps to solve a problem. “Algorithm” is the exact term used in computer science and mathematics for that concept, so it fills the blank precisely.

5. Why other plausible options are incorrect
- Program: an implementation (usually code) that may contain algorithms; not the abstract “sequence of steps” itself.
- Procedure/method/routine: similar but often less formal; can be part of a program or an algorithm but not the specific technical term emphasized here.
- Process: a broader term for workflows and may not imply the precise, finite stepwise nature of an algorithm.

6. Conclusion
The correct word to complete the sentence is “algorithm,” which matches the provided answer.

A(n) ______ is a sequence of steps for accomplishing a task.Single choice

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