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Iteration - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Iteration : (noun)
1: (computer science) a single execution of a set of
instructions that are to be repeated; "the solution took
hundreds of iterations" [syn: loop]
2: (computer science) executing the same set of instructions a
given number of times or until a specified result is
obtained; "the solution is obtained by iteration" [syn: looping]
3: doing or saying again; a repeated performance
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Iteration : \It`er*a"tion\, n. [L. iteratio.]
Recital or performance a second time; repetition. --Bacon.
What needs this iteration, woman? --Shak.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Iteration :
Repetition of a sequence of instructions. A
fundamental part of many algorithms. Iteration is
characterised by a set of initial conditions, an iterative
step and a termination condition.
A well known example of iteration in mathematics is
Newton-Raphson iteration. Iteration in programs is expressed
using loops, e.g. in C:
new_x = n/2;
do
{
x = new_x;
new_x = 0.5 * (x _ n/x);
while (abs(new_x-x) > epsilon);
Iteration can be expressed in functional languages using
recursion:
solve x n = if abs(new_x-x) > epsilon
then solve new_x n
else new_x
where new_x = 0.5 * (x _ n/x)
solve n/2 n
(1998-04-04)
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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