
Programs
The design of any computer program must start with an algorithm,
because unless you know a method for solving a problem, you cannot write a
computer program for solving it. Computer programs cannot solve prob-
lems that are impossible for humans, all they can do is carry out an algorithm
very much faster than a human, so that problems that might take a team of
humans many years to solve can be solved by the computer in minutes -
provided the method of solving the problem is known.
One particular advantage of using a computer is that it can deal very well
with algorithms that require a lot of repetition. For example, there is a well-