Why are algorithms so important?
"A person well-trained in computer science knows how to deal with algorithms: how to construct them, manipulate them, understand them, analyze them. This knowledge is preparation for much more than writing good computer programs; it is a general-purpose mental tool that will be a definite aid to the understanding of other subjects, whether they be chemistry, linguistics, or music, etc. The reason for this may be understood in the following way:
It has often been said that a person does not really understand something until after teaching it to someone else. Actually, a person does not really understand something until after teaching it to a computer, i.e., expressing it as an algorithm...An attempt to formalize things as algorithms leads to a much deeper understanding than if we simply try to comprehend things in the traditional way."
-Donald Knuth
created the field of rigorous analysis of algorithms
Why is algorithm analysis so important
"Computer science is much more than programming. CS is understanding how to use the power of computer (i) to solve problems that have never been solved before or (ii) to solve problems in a vastly superior way. A strong understanding of the design and analysis of algorithms may be the biggest factor in what distinguishes a computer scientist from an expendable programmer. The fundamental concepts in algorithm design and analysis will stick around a lot longer than the computer languages and technologies used to implement algorithms."
-Eric Breimer
your guide to the exciting world of Algorithm Analysis