Which step comes first in the problem solving and algorithm design process?

• A. Understand the problem
• B. Brainstorm approaches
• C. Implement the solution
• D. Test and refine

Answer: (A)

Understanding the problem first is essential because you need to know exactly what the program must accomplish, what inputs are available, what outputs are expected, and any constraints or limits. This initial clarity shapes every later decision: which approach to try, which data structures to use, and what counts as a correct result. If you start designing an algorithm without fully grasping the requirements, you risk solving the wrong problem or missing important details, which makes testing and refinement much harder. Once the goal and constraints are clear, you can brainstorm possible approaches, weigh their trade-offs, and choose a plan to implement. Then you test and refine to verify correctness and performance across different cases.