What term describes a set of step-by-step instructions used to perform tasks in programming, such as solving a calculation?

What term describes a set of step-by-step instructions used to perform tasks in programming, such as solving a calculation?

• A. Function
• B. Algorithm
• C. Class
• D. Variable

Answer: (B)

The main idea is a methodical, repeatable way to solve a problem by listing the exact steps to follow. An algorithm is a precise, finite set of instructions designed to produce a result, such as computing a calculation. It describes the approach or plan rather than a specific piece of code. That’s why this term fits best: it captures the overall procedure you would use to reach a solution. A function is a concrete block of code that you can run, but it’s one implementation detail that can realize an algorithm. A class is a blueprint for objects and their behavior, not a step-by-step procedure. A variable simply stores data, not a sequence of actions. For example, an algorithm to compute the average of a list of numbers would outline steps like sum the numbers, count how many there are, and divide the total by the count. These steps define the method, regardless of how they’re written in any programming language.

The main idea is a methodical, repeatable way to solve a problem by listing the exact steps to follow. An algorithm is a precise, finite set of instructions designed to produce a result, such as computing a calculation. It describes the approach or plan rather than a specific piece of code.

That’s why this term fits best: it captures the overall procedure you would use to reach a solution. A function is a concrete block of code that you can run, but it’s one implementation detail that can realize an algorithm. A class is a blueprint for objects and their behavior, not a step-by-step procedure. A variable simply stores data, not a sequence of actions.

For example, an algorithm to compute the average of a list of numbers would outline steps like sum the numbers, count how many there are, and divide the total by the count. These steps define the method, regardless of how they’re written in any programming language.