Algorithm and DrRacket

         After the term test, we started learning algorithm, which means a simple sequence of feasible steps to solve a problem. I really like this part of teaching. Our professor used different examples to demonstrate how algorithm works in mathematical world and daily life. The steps of making a peanut butter jam sandwich and folding a piece paper greatly helped me understand that human-beings actually use algorithm to solve problems every moment in their mind. It doesn’t matter whether those problems are math problems or not. Algorithm is just a logical and effective way of thinking.

        As what I mentioned in my last article, DrRacket is easy and interesting for me. Now this situation changed. It is still interesting, but it is not easy anymore. Many new commands appear with their different functions. The process of manipulating images becomes complicated and challenging. I always get stuck when I define something. After I click “run”, the results are not what they should be. Finally I realized the importance of writing a statement and doing the “check-expect” command. I used to skip and ignore them when I was doing the tutorial exercises on my own. I begin to do the statement and the “check-expect” command carefully. Then I am clear about everything I am going to do. So I strongly recommend you to do the statement and the “check-expect” if you skip these things just like me before. To be honest, I sometimes feel good when our professor makes mistakes in class because I can tell myself I am not the only one who occasionally messes up everything in DrRacket.