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[Solved]: What is the difference between a problem and an algorithm?

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Problem Detail: 

I can say that $x * y$ is a problem, but also I can say that $x * y$ is an algorithm for finding the area of rectangle.

I been reading Wikipedia about an algorithm and a problem, but I am not sure about their definitions. Could you please explain it to me in more detail?

Asked By : Ilya_Gazman

Answered By : Juho

"What is the product of $x$ and $y$?" is a problem, and it might model or correspond to the problem of calculating the area of a rectangle. However, how do you actually compute $x \times y$? An algorithm, informally a precise list of steps to take, for doing this would be some multiplication algorithm.

Another example, from your favorite world of satisfiability is the following problem.

Instance: a 2-CNF formula $\phi$. Question: Is the formula $\phi$ satisfiable?

A method of deciding the problem is an algorithm, such as the truth table method (or a polynomial-time algorithm, such as the ones on Wikipedia).

Best Answer from StackOverflow

Question Source : http://cs.stackexchange.com/questions/18717

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