Mathematical Algorithms

Mathematical Algorithms

Instructional Development Paradigms

An encyclopedic examination of competing paradigms in the areas of instructional design and development at all levels and in a variety of environments. The 46 treatments feature the analysis of experienced scholars and sometimes the authors of the particular theories under discussion which include topics in instructional development in its philosophical mode (constructivism, postmodernism, systems approach), as a cultural vantage point, and in theory and application reviewing the effects of technology on class design, the influences of semiotics, the strategic advantages of constructivist instruction versus linear designs, and modeling for applying design strategies from constructivism and cognitive theory to individualizing instruction with adult learners. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Algorithms: Main Ideas and Applications

Today the notion of the algorithm is familiar not only to mathematicians. It forms a conceptual base for information processing; the existence of a corresponding algorithm makes automatic information processing possible. The theory of algorithms (together with mathematical logic ) forms the the oretical basis for modern computer science (see [Sem Us 86]; this article is called "Mathematical Logic in Computer Science and Computing Practice" and in its title mathematical logic is understood in a broad sense including the theory of algorithms). However, not everyone realizes that the word "algorithm" includes a transformed toponym Khorezm. Algorithms were named after a great sci entist of medieval East, is al-Khwarizmi (where al-Khwarizmi means "from Khorezm"). He lived between c. 783 and 850 B.C. and the year 1983 was chosen to celebrate his 1200th birthday. A short biography of al-Khwarizmi compiled in the tenth century starts as follows: "al-Khwarizmi. His name is Muhammad ibn Musa, he is from Khoresm" (cited according to [Bul Rozen Ah 83, p.8]).