Problem Solving and Programming

Programming is the process of taking an algorithm and encoding it into a notation, a programming language,
so that it can be executed by a computer. Although many programming languages and many di erent types of computers exist, the important rst step is the need to have the solution. Without an algorithm there can be no program. Computer science is not the study of programming. Programming, however, is an important part of what a computer scientist does. Programming is often the way that we create a representation for our solutions. Therefore, this language representation and the process of creating it becomes a fundamental part of the discipline. Computers touch all areas of our lives: paying bills, driving cars, using the telephone, shopping.