CS477/677: Analysis of Algorithms

Spring 2009

General Information Course Description Syllabus Assignments/Grading Announcements



Instructor: Monica Nicolescu

E-mail:monica@cs.unr.edu
Office:SEM 239
Phone:(775) 784-1687
Office hours:Wednesday: 10am-noon

Teaching assistant: TBA

E-mail:TBA
Office:TBA
Phone:TBA
Office hours:TBA

Time and Place

Tuesday, Thursday: 4:00pm-5:15pm, PE 205

Required Textbook

Introduction to Algorithms, Second Edition, 2001.
Authors: Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest and Clifford Stein



Course description

The design and analysis of algorithms is the core subject matter of Computer Science. Given a problem, we want to (a) find an algorithm to solve the problem, (b) prove that the algorithm solves the problem correctly, and (c) prove that we cannot solve the problem any faster. Designing an algorithm for a computational problem involves knowledge of the problem domain, a thorough knowledge of the data structures that are available and suitable and no small measure of creativity. This course concentrates on the above problems, studying useful algorithmic design techniques, and methods for analyzing algorithms.

Prerequisites

CS 365. Good knowledge of data structures (such as linked lists and trees) and a good mathematical background are required.



Syllabus

Following are the topics that will be discussed, listed in the approximate order in which they will be covered.
  • Introduction/Mathematical Foundations (Chapters 1, 3, Appendix A)
  • Recurrences (Chapter 4)
  • Sorting Algorithms (Chapters 2, 8)
  • Randomized Algorithms (Chapters 5, 7, 9)
  • Data Structures (Chapters 6, 11, 12, 13, 14)
  • Greedy Algorithms (Chapter 16)
  • Dynamic Programming (Chapter 15)
  • Graph Algorithms (Appendix B4, Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25)
  • Selected Topics (Chapters 28, 30, 31, 34, 35)

Class schedule

The topics presented and the lecture notes for each class will gradually be posted below as we cover them in the class. The assignments and their due dates will also be posted in this table. Please check this web page regularly for updates.

For homework submission please include a typed cover sheet with your name, section number and homework number. It would be desired to type the rest of your homework, but handwriting will be accepted. You can find instructions about writing your homework with LaTeX on Richard's webpage.


Date Topic Readings Assignments

Jan 20

Introduction Chapter 1, Appendix ---

Jan 22

Asymptotic notations, recurrences Chapter 3, Appendix A ---

Jan 27

Solving recurrences Chapter 4 Hw1 out

Jan 29

Sorting Chapter 2 ---

Feb 3

Sorting: Mergesort, Quicksort Chapter 2, Chapter 7 Hw2 out

Feb 5

Sorting: Quicksort Chapter 7 ---

Feb 10

Selection Chapter 9 Hw3 out

Feb 12

Sorting in Linear Time, Heaps Chapter 8, Chapter 6 ---

Feb 17

Heaps, Heapsort Chapter 6 Hw4 out

Feb 19

Binary-search trees Chapter 12 ---

Feb 24

No class. --- ---

Feb 26

Red-black trees, Augmenting Data Structures Chapter 14, Chapter 11 ---
Mar 3 Augmenting Data Structures Chapter 11 Hw5 out
Mar 5 Mid-term review --- ---
Mar 10 MID-TERM --- ---
Mar 12 Mid-term discussion --- ---
Mar 24 No class - invited speaker --- ---
Mar 26 Hash Tables Chapter 13 ---
Mar 31 Hash Tables, Dynamic Programming Chapter 15, Chapter 16 Hw6 out
Apr 2 Dynamic Programming Chapter 16 ---
Apr 7 Dynamic Programming Chapter 16, Chapter 22 Hw7 out
Apr 9 Greedy Algorithms Chapter 22 ---
Apr 14 Greedy Algorithms, Graph Algorithms Chapter 22, Chapter 23 ---
Apr 16 Graph Algorithms Chapter 22, Chapter 23 ---
Apr 21 Graph Algorithms Chapter 22, Chapter 23 Hw8 out
Apr 23 Shortest Path Algorithms Chapter 23, Chapter 24 ---
Apr 28 Shortest Paths Algorithms Chapter 24 Hw9 out
Apr 30 Shortest Paths Algorithms, NP-Completeness Chapter 24, Chapter 34 ---
May 5 Review --- ---
TBA Final Exam: comprehensive, with emphasis on material after mid-term --- ---



Assignments and grading

Homework assignments: There will be 10 homework assignments. The homeworks and their due dates will be posted on the course web page. Homeworks are due on their specified date at the beginning of the class. Some assignments will contain extra-credit problems and some may have a programming component. For each assignment the undergraduate students are required to solve the problems labeled U-required, while graduate students are required to solve all the problems. For the assignments that include extra-credit problems, the undergraduate students can earn extra-credit by solving either the extra-credit or the graduate level problems. Solutions to all the problems assigned will be provided.

Please make sure that you have a CS department computer account - you will need it for the programming assignments. You can obtain a CS department account by filling out the account registration form at the CS department.

Late policy: each late homework will incur a 10% penalty for each day of delay, but no homeworks may be submitted later than 3 days after the deadline.

Academic integrity: Students are encouraged to study together, however each student must individually prepare his/her solutions. Cheating or plagiarism are not permitted and will be sanctioned according with the UNR policy on Academic Standards. You should carefully read the section on Academic Dishonesty found in the UNR Student Handbook (copies of this section are on-line). Your continued enrollment in this course implies that you have read it, and that you subscribe to the principles stated therein.

Exams: there will be one mid-term and one final exam. Both exams will be closed books, closed notes. Permission to take exams on other dates than scheduled will not be given, except for extreme medical emergencies.

Grading policy (tentative, subject to change):
Homework:40%
Mid-term:25%
Final exam:30%
Attendance and class participation:5%

Grading scheme (tentative, subject to change):
A:90 and above
B:80-89
C:65-79
D:55-64
F:<55




Announcements

Announcements regarding the assignments or other updates will be posted on the class web page and also sent by e-mail. Please check your UNR e-mail account, as this is the address I will use to contact you. If needed, implement e-mail forwarding.



Created by: Monica NICOLESCU (e-mail:monica@cs.unr.edu)
Last update: 01/12/2009