Computational Thinking

Karthik Thiagarajan

IIT Madras

2025-10-22

Introduction

Agenda

  • Compute
  • Problem Solving
  • Computational Thinking
  • Computing
  • Algorithms and Coding

Compute

Define Compute

Dissecting Compute

  • What

  • Why

  • How

  • Who

What

100 - 80

2x - 4 = 0 \implies x = 2

F = \cfrac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}

Why

  • To function as civilized humans in a society
  • To understand the “mathematical” world around us
  • To build things

\boxed{\text{To solve problems}}

How

  • Fingers
  • Pen and paper
  • Pocket calculator
  • Desktop/laptop computer
  • Smartphone
  • AI

Who

Humans

  • Speed: slow
  • Errors: high
  • Drudgery: high
  • Environmental impact: minimal

Machines

  • Speed: very fast
  • Errors: minimal
  • Drudgery: NA
  • Environmental impact: high

Human Computers

AI

Problem Solving

Define Problem Solving

Problem Formulation

Problem Solving Principles

Computational Thinking

Define Computational Thinking

Computational Thinking (CT)

Computational Thinking (CT)

… is an approach to problem solving powered by the framework of computing

Computing

Define Computing

Data Representation

  • Linear
  • Table
  • Graph

170, 160, 163, 150, 180, 175

Venue 1st Innings 2nd Innings Day-Night Type Highest Score Fours
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 195/5 198/3 Yes T20 98* 25
M.A. Chidambaram, Chennai 310/7 280 all out No One-Day 124 45
Lord’s, London 450/8d 210 all out No Test 180 52
MCG, Melbourne 160/9 161/7 Yes T20 75 18

Data Management

  • Collection
  • Curation
  • Storage
  • Retrieval
  • Mining

Algorithms and Programming

Define Algorithm

A finite sequence of well-defined steps.

Wait, so you’re an algorithm?

Buidling with Bobo

Summary

Agenda again

  • Compute
  • Problem Solving
  • Computational Thinking
  • Computing
  • Algorithms and Programming

Slides

This slide deck was prepared using Quarto and is hosted here:

https://talks.karthikthiagu.com/computational-thinking

References and Tools