CS404/504 Design and Analysis of Algorithms

Please checkhomework page frequently for clarifications regarding assignments, and any late-breaking news regarding due dates etc.

A Style Guide is available on-line to assist you in determining the correct style for your programs. You are required to follow the guidelines in all programs you turn in for the course. Failure to follow the guidelines may result in a significantly lower grade on an assignment.

Instructor: David M. Chelberg (Press here to email)

Office: Stocker 322B

Office Hours: Mon, Tue, Thr 10:10-11:00am, and by email appointment. Feel free to just stop by as well.

Homework assignments

Reading assignments

Lecture Notes

are available from prime/p1/p2 in the directory: ~cs404/lectures. They are stored as compressed postscript files. To print, you must first uncompress using the command gunzip, then send to a postscript printer (using lp). Detailed instructions for those new to Unix.

Objectives

This course provides an introduction to the modern study of computer algorithms. Through this course students should be able to:

1. analyze algorithm performance using complexity measurement.
2. master major algorithms design techniques such as divide and conquer, greedy and dynamic programming.
3. apply above approaches to solve a variety of practical problems such as sorting and selection, graph problems, computational geometry, etc.
4. understand the theory of NP-completeness.

Prereq:

CS361 and CS300.

Required Texts:

"Introduction to Algorithms, Second Edition," by Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest, and Stein, MIT Press, 2001.

Recommended Texts:

"Computer Algorithms," by Horowitz, Sahni and Rajasekaran, W. H. Freeman Press, 1998.

Course Outline:

This course emphasizes the importance of fundamental analysis and design techniques to programming. Here we build on CS 361(Data Structures and Algorithms) and examine the following topics in more detail.

1. The mathematical analysis of algorithms: best-case, worst-case, average case analysis; asymptotic growth rates; recurrence relations.
2. Algorithms design techniques: divide and conquer algorithms; greedy algorithms; dynamic programming algorithms.
3. Lower bound analysis.
4. Intractability: P vs. NP vs. NP-completeness.
5. Special topics (e.g. Mathematical algorithms: fast Fourier transform; matrix multiplication).

Expectations

Students are expected to spend AT LEAST two hours outside of class per class session, including working exercises in the book, and programming homework problems. Programming can only be learned by doing! In this class students are expected to write many programs in order to gain proficiency, and to fully understand the algorithms and data structures covered.

Examination schedule:

There will be one midterm exam (date to be determined). Pop quizzes may be given on any given day when no other exams are scheduled.

Grading policy:

Your grade will be based on a composite score computed according to the following approximate breakdown: 15% for quizzes, 45% for paper homework and programming projects 15% for the midterm, and 25% for the final.

Attendance Policy:

Students are strongly encouraged to attend all classes, but attendance is not required. Class attendance will not be used in the final determination of grades. Students miss classes at their own risk. There will be no make-up quizzes, students missing class on the day of a quiz will be given a zero. Students are required to attend class during the midterm and final exam unless prior arrangements have been made.

Academic dishonesty:

Students are expected to turn in only their own work with proper documentation. Anything else will result in an F for the exam, project or program, and possibly an F for the course, or even dismissal from the University. This means NO WORKING IN GROUPS, and NO SHARING CODE. For more information see the student affairs handbook

Interesting Links:

Limit Tests for Big O, Big Theta, Big Omega and little o, and omega.

A Wikipedia article on Big O, etc. notation with hints.

Java Based Sorting Algorithm Animations

Another animated sorting demo.

Algorithm/Data Structure Visualization .jar file

QuickHull Visualization

You tube video "I will derive" Humorous!

Zune Bug Discussion (algorithm correctness, etc.)