Chapter 1 Flashcards
(48 cards)
What is an algorithm?
A well-ordered collection of unambiguous and effectively computable operations that, when executed, produces a result and halts in a finite amount of time
Computer science is:
The study of algorithms, including:
- Their formal and mathematical properties
- Their hardware realizations
- Their linguistic realizations
- Their applications
Sequential operations
A sequential instruction carries out a single well-defined task. When that task is finished, the algorithm moves on to the next operation. Usually expressed as single declarative sentences
Conditional operations
“Question-asking” instructions of an algorithm. Starts with “if”
Iterative operations
Looping instructions of an algorithm
First commercial machine and when
UNIVAC I, 1951
First high-level programming language and when
FORTRAN, 1957
ACM stands for_______ and was established in ____
Association for Computing Machinery, 1947.
What is Al-Khowarizmi known for?
In 825AD, he wrote a book about the base 10 positional numbering system that had been developed in India.
Computing agent
In computer science terminology, the machine, robot, person, or thing carrying out the steps of an algorithm
Unambiguous operation
An operation that can be understood and carried out directly by the computing agent without further simplification or explanation
Primitive
When an operation is unambiguous. Algorithms are made up of primitives.
Effectively computable
The formal term for whether an operation is “doable”
Who invented logarithms and when?
John Napier, 1672
When was the slide rule developed?
1622
Who invented the first mechanical calculator, what was it called, and when?
Blaise Pascal, Pascaline, in 1672
Who invented the mechanical calculator which could add, subtract, multiply, and divide? What was it called? When?
Gottfried Leibniz, leibniz wheel, 1674
What are the two qualifications of a computer?
Memory and programmable
Who automated the weaving process, using what, and when?
Frenchman Joseph Jacquard, using the Jacquard Loom, in 1801
Who were the Luddites?
The Luddites, named after their leader Ned Ludd, formed in 1811 as a result of the new manufacturing technology. They burned down the factories of any attempting to use the new technology
Why was Jaquard’s Loom so important?
It was the first programmable device, and it hired how the knowledge of a human expert could be captured in machine-readable form and used to control a machine that accomplished the same task automatically
What was the Difference Engine, who created it, and when?
The difference engine could do addition, sub, mult, div to six significant digits, and could solve polynomial equations and other complex mathematical problems. Created by Charles Babbage in 1823
What was Babbage’s equivalent to the modern-day computer?
The Analytic Engine
Mill = arithmetic/logic unit
Store = memory
Operator = processor
Output unit = input/output
What is Herman Hollerith known for?
He created a keypunch machine to speed up the process of the 1890 census. He also founded the Computer Tabulating Recording Company to build and sell these machines. The Keypunch was the dominant form of data-processing during the first half of the 20th century, well into the 1950s and 1960s. His company changed its name to IBM in 1924
