What is the definition of an algorithm?
A. A computer programming language
B. A programmer
C. A recipe
D. A set of instructions to solve a problem
D. A set of instructions to solve a problem
D. A set of instructions to solve a problem
The correct answer is D. A set of instructions to solve a problem.
To arrive at this answer, we can eliminate options A, B, and C by understanding what an algorithm is. An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure or set of rules to solve a problem or accomplish a specific task. It is not a computer programming language (option A) because algorithms can be independent of any specific programming language. It is also not a programmer (option B) because an algorithm is a concept or idea rather than a person. Finally, while an algorithm can be likened to a recipe (option C) in that it provides a guide or instructions for accomplishing a task, it is broader in scope and generally used in contexts beyond cooking. Therefore, the correct answer is D.