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Understanding Algorithms with Real-Life Examples

Imagine waking up in the morning. You stretch, yawn, and decide to make a cup of tea. Without thinking too much, you follow a step-by-step process: boil water, place a teabag in a cup, pour the hot water, wait a few minutes, remove the teabag, and enjoy. This simple routine you follow every day is, in fact, an algorithm.

At its core, an algorithm is a set of instructions or a defined procedure for solving a problem or achieving a specific goal. It doesn’t just belong in the world of computers and programming—it exists all around us.

What is an Algorithm?

In computer science, an algorithm is a well-defined sequence of steps that a computer follows to perform a task. But this concept is not limited to code. Consider this real-life scenario:

Example 1: Cooking a Meal

Let’s say you’re making jollof rice. You don’t just throw all ingredients into the pot randomly. You follow a procedure:

1. Wash and parboil the rice.

2. Blend your tomatoes, peppers, and onions.

3. Heat oil and fry the mixture.

4. Add seasoning and broth.

5. Pour in the rice and cook till done.

Each step depends on the last. If you skip one or do them out of order, your jollof might turn into a disaster. This is just like in programming—algorithms must be precise, logical, and ordered to work effectively.

Example 2: Searching for a Word in a Dictionary

When you search for a word in a physical dictionary, you don’t start from the first page and flip through every word. You use logic:

• You know the alphabet order.

• You open somewhere in the middle.

• If you land on “M” but your word starts with “B”, you flip backward.

This method is like the Binary Search Algorithm, where a large set of data is divided repeatedly until the desired result is found. It's fast and efficient.

Example 3: Getting Dressed

Even getting dressed follows an algorithm. You wouldn’t put on your shoes before wearing your trousers. That order matters—a clear rule in programming too.

This resembles sequencing in algorithms—where certain steps must be done before others to ensure the final result makes sense.

Example 4: Navigating with Google Maps

When you enter your destination in Google Maps, it calculates the fastest route based on traffic and distance. It considers all possibilities and chooses the best one. This is like a pathfinding algorithm, such as Dijkstra’s or A* algorithm, which finds the shortest path between two points.

Why Are Algorithms Important?

Algorithms power everything in technology—from social media feeds to online shopping recommendations, to search engines and smartphone apps. Understanding them helps us design smarter, faster, and more efficient systems.

But even beyond tech, realizing how algorithms work helps in decision-making, improving routines, and solving daily problems logically.

In Conclusion

Algorithms are not just for computer scientists or programmers. They are part of our daily lives—whether we notice them or not. By recognizing the patterns and logical steps we take in everyday activities, we begin to appreciate the beauty of algorithms. And once you understand them in real life, you’re one step closer to mastering them in code.