computational-methods

Features of Computation

What are computational methods?

• In A Level Computer Science, computational methods refer to a set of problem-solving techniques that use algorithms and mathematical models to analyse, simulate, and solve complex problems efficiently using a computer

• It’s important to consider if problems can be solved using algorithms and programming code

• For example:

  • Sorting a list of numbers is feasible using algorithms like quick sort or merge sort

  • But ethical problems or social problems, like determining if a loan should be approved, may incorporate some human input that algorithms could oversimplify or misinterpret

Real-world constraints on computable problems

• Practical limitations such as computing power, speed, and memory can affect whether a problem is solvable

• Running complex machine learning models on a regular laptop might be constrained by limited processing power and memory

Challenges with resource-intensive problems

• Some problems are theoretically solvable but not practical due to resource limitations

• For example, calculating Pi to a billion decimal places is theoretically possible but impractical due to the amount of computational resources needed

Advances in technology

• Technological improvements have expanded the types of problems that can be computationally solved

• For example, genome sequencing has become quicker and more affordable due to advances in technology

Example

• Below is a table of problems identified for an online grocery business

• The table shows which problems are computational and a reason why