{"id":60759,"date":"2019-04-17T13:51:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T13:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explore.local\/2019\/04\/17\/degreed-does-data-algorithms\/"},"modified":"2025-04-04T19:18:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T19:18:03","slug":"degreed-does-data-algorithms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/degreed.com\/experience\/es-419\/blog\/degreed-does-data-algorithms\/","title":{"rendered":"Degreed Does Data: Algorithms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are disrupting everything we know, in ways that most of us don\u2019t understand… yet. To help you keep up, we\u2019ve launched a new series, Degreed Does Data<\/em>. We\u2019ll dive deep into these topics, simplify their complexities, explain their potential impact, and break down the dramatic ways they\u2019ll change the industry. Our previous entries include Data Science<\/a> and Machine Learning<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, we\u2019re unpacking one of the most fundamental concepts in mathematics and computer science: the algorithm. We see algorithms all over, from YouTube to Amazon to Instagram, but how can they be used for learning? More so, how can companies take advantage of the opportunities and advantages algorithms create?
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is an Algorithm?
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"what<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Definition: <\/em><\/strong>A rule (or set of rules) for a software program to solve problems by taking in information and giving out solutions. <\/em>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term algorithm makes most think of today\u2019s Silicon Valley. Interestingly enough, the word comes from ninth-century Persia. Sometime around 820 AD, the mathematician, Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi, wrote the world\u2019s first algebra textbook. The English word algorithm comes from Al-Khwarizmi\u2019s name and his steps for solving equations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast forward to the present, and algorithms do a whole lot more than just solving problems on algebra tests. They give us our search results, suggest videos for us to watch, find drivers to pick us up, and even match us with potential partners. Without algorithms, there would be no apps, no internet, no computers. Just imagine the horror.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So How Do Algorithms Work? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"how<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s all about the give and take. By that, we mean taking inputs<\/em> and giving outputs<\/em>. A search algorithm takes the terms you put in and gives out the relevant webpages. A recommendation algorithm, like what you see on Netflix or YouTube, takes your viewing habits as the input and gives autoplay videos as the output. Algorithms for ridesharing or dating apps take users\u2019 information as the inputs and then generate matches as the outputs.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the age of Big Data, we\u2019re tracking every aspect of our lives \u2014 health, safety, education, even our sleep \u2014 so we can create algorithms using this data as inputs. These outputs are now capable of answering some pretty difficult questions including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n