Questions tagged [algorithm]
The algorithm tag has no usage guidance.
4
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Who invented short and long division?
I am curious who came up with algorithms that we use today to manually solve mathematical division problems, such as short or long division; how were they established or standardized that way and why?...
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6
votes
1
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What is the earliest instance of the use of an algorithm to solve problems?
In reading a description on Usenet of a NIST competition for selecting a standard cipher, I read:
Consider that the best currently known methods for factoring use
randomization: Construct enough ...
- 181
17
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1
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Was Kolmogorov enraged after learning about the Karatsuba multiplication algorithm?
Some years ago, I read that Kolmogorov was so enraged that Karatsuba disproved one of his conjectures that he terminated his seminar shortly thereafter.
This Wikipedia page claims that Kolmogorov was ...
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7
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1
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Were ancient Romans so bad at computations before Arab numerals?
It is often said that Romans (see below) had a terrible number system, which made computations a mess. I do believe this, but I'm suspicious of the claim that nobody had better ways to do computations ...
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