In an algorithm, many simple operations are combined to help form a more complicated operation, which is performed with ease by the computer. Thus, the problem is first analyzed, and then the best algorithm is used to solve it.Īn algorithm follows a systematic and a logical approach, where the procedure is defined step-wise. The selection of an algorithm depends upon the nature of the given problem. An algorithm consists of sequences, iterations, selections, etc. Thus, an algorithm is a step-by-step procedure developed for solving a given problem. What is an Algorithm?Ī sequence of steps to solve a given problem is called as algorithm. Let's start with some basic concepts of algorithm and pseudocode. In this article, we will discuss the other important differences between an algorithm and a pseudocode. The basic difference between algorithm and pseudocode is that an algorithm is a step-by-step procedure developed to solve a problem, while a pseudocode is a technique of developing an algorithm. The answer is that 'it depends'.Algorithm and Pseudocode are the two related terms in computer programming. The question now is: is this better than sorting the list and picking up the top N and bottom N elements?

Insert it at the right place in top list, pushing out the smallest element of the top list If the number is larger then any number in the top-list

I will leave it to you how to maintain that list, but here's a pseudocode using that approach populate the top-list with first N numbers from input, ensure the top-list is sorted How do we keep N largest number? Clearly, we need a list of N sorted number. If second number is larger then the largestĬonsider the second number to be largest, first to be 2nd largestĬonsider the first number to be largest, second to be 2nd largestĬonsider current largest to be 2nd largest and this number to be largestĮlse if it is larger then the 2nd largestīut if there are three or more this can get ugly. How would you do it if there were two? consider the first number to be largest How would you solve the same problem if you had to only report the largest number? The pseudocode would be something like the following consider the first number to be largest

Write a pseudocode