Computer program

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/computer-program

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the algorithmic representation?A program is the concrete implementation of an algorithm
2. What is the core execution unit?The Central Processing Unit (CPU) fetches, decodes, and executes program instructions
3. How did computer programs start in history?The first ideas for programs came from Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine in the 1800s, and Ada Lovelace wrote the first algorithm for it. Real programs started with early electronic computers like ENIAC and EDVAC in the mid-1900s. Back then people had to use switches and plugboards to tell the machine what to do.
4. Why are computer programs important for everyday life?Programs help many parts of our world, like making phones talk to each other, running banks, studying science, and helping doctors diagnose illnesses. They also make everyday gadgets work, from microwaves to cars. Because of programs, we can do more tasks quickly and connect with people everywhere.

Algorithm: A precise, step-by-step procedure or set of rules for solving a problem or performing a computation.
Source Code: The human-readable instructions written by a programmer in a specific programming language.
Executable File: A file containing machine code that can be directly run by the computer's processor.