About this course: The primary topics in this part of the specialization are: asymptotic ("Big-oh") notation, sorting and searching, divide and conquer (master method, integer and matrix multiplication, closest pair), and randomized algorithms (QuickSort, contraction algorithm for min cuts).
Who is this class for: Learners with at least a little bit of programming experience who want to learn the essentials of algorithms. In a University computer science curriculum, this course is typically taken in the third year.
Created by: Stanford University
Taught by: Tim Roughgarden, Professor
Computer Science
| Basic Info | Course 1 of 4 in the Algorithms Specialization |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 4-8 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Week 1
Introduction; "big-oh" notation and asymptotic analysis.
13 videos, 3 readings
- Reading: Welcome and Week 1 Overview
- Reading: Overview, Resources, and Policies
- Reading: Lecture slides
- Video: Integer Multiplication
- Video: Karatsuba Multiplication
- Video: About the Course
- Video: Merge Sort: Motivation and Example
- Video: Merge Sort: Pseudocode
- Video: Merge Sort: Analysis
- Video: Guiding Principles for Analysis of Algorithms
- Video: The Gist
- Video: Big-Oh Notation
- Video: Basic Examples
- Video: Big Omega and Theta
- Video: Additional Examples [Review - Optional]
Graded: Problem Set #1
Graded: Programming Assignment #1
WEEK 2
Week 2
Divide-and-conquer basics; the master method for analyzing divide and conquer algorithms.
11 videos, 2 readings
- Reading: Week 2 Overview
- Video: O(n log n) Algorithm for Counting Inversions II
- Video: Strassen's Subcubic Matrix Multiplication Algorithm
- Video: O(n log n) Algorithm for Closest Pair I [Advanced - Optional]
- Video: O(n log n) Algorithm for Closest Pair II [Advanced - Optional]
- Video: Motivation
- Video: Formal Statement
- Video: Examples
- Video: Proof I
- Video: Interpretation of the 3 Cases
- Video: Proof II
- Reading: Optional Theory Problems (Batch #1)
Graded: Problem Set #2
Graded: Programming Assignment #2
WEEK 3
Week 3
The QuickSort algorithm and its analysis; probability review.
9 videos, 1 reading
- Reading: Week 3 Overview
- Video: Partitioning Around a Pivot
- Video: Correctness of Quicksort [Review - Optional]
- Video: Choosing a Good Pivot
- Video: Analysis I: A Decomposition Principle
- Video: Analysis II: The Key Insight
- Video: Analysis III: Final Calculations
- Video: Probability Review I
- Video: Probability Review II
Graded: Problem Set #3
Graded: Programming Assignment #3
WEEK 4
Week 4
Linear-time selection; graphs, cuts, and the contraction algorithm.
11 videos, 3 readings
- Reading: Week 4 Overview
- Video: Randomized Selection - Analysis
- Video: Deterministic Selection - Algorithm [Advanced - Optional]
- Video: Deterministic Selection - Analysis I [Advanced - Optional]
- Video: Deterministic Selection - Analysis II [Advanced - Optional]
- Video: Omega(n log n) Lower Bound for Comparison-Based Sorting [Advanced - Optional]
- Video: Graphs and Minimum Cuts
- Video: Graph Representations
- Video: Random Contraction Algorithm
- Video: Analysis of Contraction Algorithm
- Video: Counting Minimum Cuts
- Reading: Optional Theory Problems (Batch #2)
- Reading: Info and FAQ for final exam
Graded: Problem Set #4
Graded: Programming Assignment #4
Graded: Final Exam
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Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is an American private research university located in Stanford, California on an 8,180-acre (3,310 ha) campus near Palo Alto, California, United States.
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| Access to course materials | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Available |
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