(definition)
Definition: Any algorithm that works for all practical purposes but has a theoretical chance of being wrong.
Specialization (... is a kind of me.)
Bloom filter, sublinear time algorithm.
See also Monte Carlo algorithm, Las Vegas algorithm, randomized algorithm, heuristic, deterministic algorithm.
Author: PEB
If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please get in touch with Paul E. Black.
Entry modified 27 January 2004.
HTML page formatted Fri Mar 25 16:20:34 2011.
Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "probabilistic algorithm", in
Dictionary of Algorithms and Data
Structures [online], Paul E. Black, ed.,
U.S. National Institute of
Standards and Technology. 27 January 2004. (accessed TODAY)
Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/probablAlgo.html