As a matter of fact, the term "algorithm" was not commonly extended to approximation algorithms until later; the Christofides algorithm was initially referred to as the Christofides heuristic.
Ca o chestiune de fapt, termenul de „algoritm” nu a fost frecvent extins la algoritmi de aproximare până mai târziu; algorimtul lui Christofides a fost inițial denumit „euristica Christofides”.