An algorithm is a set of instructions you follow in a fixed order to get a result — to solve a maths problem, to sort a list, to tell a computer what to do. A recipe is a homely cousin of the idea: first this, then that, then you have the dish. In computers the algorithm is the plan inside the program, not the screen you tap.

An algorithm一個演算法 is a set of instructions是一組指示，you follow in a fixed order你會按照固定順序照著做 to get a result來得到一個結果——to solve a maths problem用來解數學問題、to sort a list整理清單、to tell a computer what to do告訴電腦要做什麼。A recipe食譜 is a homely cousin of the idea是這個概念樸實的表親：first this先做這個，then that再做那個，then you have the dish然後就做出這道菜了。In computers在電腦裡，the algorithm演算法 is the plan inside the program是程式裡面的那個計畫，not the screen you tap不是你點的畫面。

People now stretch the word a long way. On phones and in the news, “the algorithm” often means “whatever the app decided to show me.” That loose talk is everywhere, though strictly the algorithm is the method, not the whole company.

People now人們現在 stretch the word a long way把這個詞用得很寬。On phones在手機上 and in the news還有在新聞裡，'the algorithm'『演算法』 often means常常指的是 'whatever the app decided to show me'「這個app決定要給我看什麼」。That loose talk這種鬆散的說法 is everywhere到處都是，though strictly不過嚴格來說 the algorithm演算法 is the method指的是那個方法，not the whole company不是整間公司。

The word comes, by a long road, from the name of a scholar from Khwarizm, al-Khwarizmi. It passed into Medieval Latin as algorismus, then into English as algorisme / algorism. Later English mixed it with a Greek piece about number (arithmo-), which is why we write algorithm with th, not the older algorism.

The word這個詞 comes, by a long road輾轉而來，from the name of a scholar來自一位學者的名字，from Khwarizm來自花剌子模的 al-Khwarizmi花剌子米。It它 passed into Medieval Latin傳進了中世紀拉丁文，as algorismus變成 algorismus，then再 into English進入英文，as algorisme / algorism變成 algorisme / algorism。Later後來 English英文 mixed it把它 with a Greek piece about number和一個跟數字有關的希臘字根 (arithmo-)混在一起，which is why這就是為什麼 we write algorithm with th我們把 algorithm 寫成有 th，not the older algorism而不是舊拼法 algorism。