Effective method

In mathematics, logic, and related disciplines, an effective method or effective procedure is a way of solving a problem. It is defined as follws:

• It has a finite number of exact instructions
• When its used for a problem of its given class:
  • It will finish after a finite number of steps
  • It will always produce the correct result
• It can be also be done by a human, with a piece of paper, and a writing aid (like a pencil)
• Anyone following the steps, will be successful.

Sometimes, people ask that the method odes not return a result, if it is aplied ot a problem which is not of its class.

In the case of computer science, an effective method is called algorithm.

Related pages

• Halting problem
• Decidability theory