P. R. Stanley:
"When you write a general solution for a class of problems, as opposed to a specific solution to a single problem, you have written an algorithm." Discuss!
Reply: Follow this algorithm of three easy steps to solve any problem: A. understand the problem B. decompose or reduce it into subproblems C. solve the subproblems Reply to reply: This algorithm has a flaw in that it solves a single problem. With some slight modification you can generalise it.
A. understand the problem B. identify commonality with other, related problems C. decompose these problems into generalised subproblems D. solve the subproblems P. R. Stanley yes, this is good. So, let's start with A. How would you sope the
problem? What's your algorithm for identifying problems? Paul