An introduction to ALGOL: a tutorial paper on ALGOL with explanations and examples to make the use of the ALGOL report more familiar

To solve a numeri(.al problem with the use of a computer, the solution must be described in terms of the computer, i.e. in (~omputer notation, before it can be given to the machine. Unfortunately, however, the computer notations are not only mueh different from classieal mathematical notation but also different among themselves, and many of the difticulti(,s of programming may be attributed to these variations. Frequent a t tempts have been made to bridge the gap between eornImter and classical mathematk:al notation by devising notations somewhere between the two extremes in order to cornbine the advantages of both: