Algorithmic Thinking: A Problem-Based Introduction - Softcover

Zingaro, Daniel

  • 4.44 out of 5 stars
    43 ratings by Goodreads
 
9781718500808: Algorithmic Thinking: A Problem-Based Introduction
Softcover
ISBN 10: 1718500807 ISBN 13: 9781718500808
Publisher: No Starch Press, 2020

Synopsis

A hands-on, problem-based introduction to building algorithms and data structures to solve problems with a computer.

Algorithmic Thinking will teach you how to solve challenging programming problems and design your own algorithms. Daniel Zingaro, a master teacher, draws his examples from world-class programming competitions like USACO and IOI. You'll learn how to classify problems, choose data structures, and identify appropriate algorithms. You'll also learn how your choice of data structure, whether a hash table, heap, or tree, can affect runtime and speed up your algorithms; and how to adopt powerful strategies like recursion, dynamic programming, and binary search to solve challenging problems.

Line-by-line breakdowns of the code will teach you how to use algorithms and data structures like:

  • The breadth-first search algorithm to find the optimal way to play a board game or find the best way to translate a book
  • Dijkstra's algorithm to determine how many mice can exit a maze or the number of fastest routes between two locations
  • The union-find data structure to answer questions about connections in a social network or determine who are friends or enemies
  • The heap data structure to determine the amount of money given away in a promotion
  • The hash-table data structure to determine whether snowflakes are unique or identify compound words in a dictionary

    • NOTE: Each problem in this book is available on a programming-judge website. You'll find the site's URL and problem ID in the description. What's better than a free correctness check?

    "synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

    About the Author

    Dr. Daniel Zingaro is an award-winning Assistant Professor of Mathematical and Computational Sciences at the University of Toronto Mississauga, where he is well known for his uniquely interactive approach to teaching, and internationally recognized for his expertise in Active Learning.

    "About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

    Publisher
    No Starch Press
    Publication date
    2020
    Language
    English
    ISBN 10 
    1718500807
    ISBN 13 
    9781718500808
    Binding
    Paperback
    Number of pages
    408
    Rating
    • 4.44 out of 5 stars
      43 ratings by Goodreads