2.2.2 Computational methods info

the process of: - searching through large amounts of data - searching for non-obvious patters/anomalies - using pattern matching algorithms - using anomaly detection algorithms - for business modelling and planning for the future

• increases profit • improves stock levels + management • can use to introduce new features • increase use from customers • remove unused features

• privacy concerns • requires supercomputers + large processing power • misuse of information

a method that is used in solving a problem that involves examining more than one possible solution

• often use recursion • in every step, the possible options are examined, and a decision is made about which option to follow • when the algorithm reaches a final state, it checks whether that state is accepted or rejected and then ‘backtracks’ to a previous state to try other options

a process of evaluating if a system or program works as expected or not before it is released.

• setting up success criteria and test scenarios • simulate real life circumstances

when a task is divided into a series of sub-tasks, where each subtask leads to the next - this means that each subtask is executed by a different process in a series and each result feeds into the next process

• clearly defined • computable • data requirements have been examined • determine if decomposition or abstraction etc can be used

• identify the nature and parameters of the problem • analyse current situation • specify requirements • identify whether the problem can be classified as a certain type of problem

a variety of techniques that aim to illustrate what a problem entails and ho to approach its solution