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Computers can be used to help solve problems. However, before a problem can be tackled, the problem itself - and the ways in which it could be solved - needs to be understood.

Computational thinking helps with this. It allows us to take a complex problem, understand what the problem is and develop possible solutions. These solutions can then be presented in a way that a computer, a human, or both, can understand.

Two important elements of computational thinking are:

• decomposition
• abstraction

Complex problems

A complex problem is one that, at first glance, does not have an obvious, immediate solution.

Computational thinking involves taking that complex problem and breaking it down into a series of small, more manageable problems. Each of these smaller problems can then be looked at individually.

Next, simple steps to solve each of the smaller problems can be designed. Finally, these simple steps are used to program a computer to help solve the complex problem in the best way.