2.2.2 Computational methods

A problem that can be solved using an algorithm

• Processing power • Computer memory • Time

Problems that are considered to be computable // can be solved using computational methods

• Breaking a complex problem into manageable sub-problems • The lowest sub problems can be coded as a procedure, module, function or method

Removing unnecessary features and keeping the necessary features that are important in context

Method that involves designing an algorithm that performs an exhaustive search and attempts possible solutions until the correct one is found

• Process of designing a model of a real system to understand its behaviour

Building problem solving models and putting them into action

• Problem is represented using mathematical equations

• The ability to recognise and acknowledge that an issue exists or that a situation needs attention in an existing process or program

A technique that reduces the size of a problem with each successive iteration

• Take a problem/data set • Apply some rules • Based on the outcome of those rules, discard any data that doesn’t match • Repeat the process with the data that is left

The process of incrementally building towards a solution, abandoning partial success when the solution cannot be completed and going back to a previously successful match

The concept of analysing vast amounts of data gathered from a variety of sources to discover new information and trends

• Business and economics • Science and engineering • Law enforcement

An approach to solving problems that allows/encourages us to make use of our experience and find a solution that can be considered good enough

The process of approximating how well models perform using mathematics

Splitting up a large task into manageable chunks and overlapping these smaller processes to speed up the overall process

Creating a mental image of what a program will do or how it will work

• Presents info in a simpler form to understand • Can best explain complex situations

• Problems to be clearly defined • Needs to be computable • Data requirements