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CS502 Midterm Study Guide

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20 views3 pages

CS502 Midterm Study Guide

Uploaded by

tahaqaiser4
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CS502 Midterm Exam Study Guide (Chapters 1–6)

Chapter 1: Introduction

Definition and Origins of Algorithms

The term 'algorithm' originates from Al-Khwarizmi, a mathematician whose works


introduced the concept of systematic problem-solving methods.
An algorithm is a finite sequence of well-defined instructions to solve a problem or perform
a computation.
Example: Recipe steps to bake a cake.

Algorithm Design and Efficiency

Good algorithm design emphasizes simplicity, efficiency, and adaptability to avoid


bottlenecks in computational performance.
Contrast: A brute-force approach versus a refined divide-and-conquer strategy.

2-Dimensional Maxima Problem

Problem: Identify points in a 2D space not dominated by others.


Algorithms:
- Brute-Force: Θ(n²) complexity.
- Plane Sweep: Θ(n log n) complexity.
Example: Finding cars that are either faster or cheaper among various options.

Chapter 2: Asymptotic Notation

Big-O, Ω, and Θ Notations

- Big-O: Upper bound, worst-case complexity. Example: Bubble Sort O(n²).


- Ω: Lower bound, best-case scenario.
- Θ: Tight bound, both upper and lower.
Example: Merging sorted arrays is Θ(n).

Common Complexities

- Θ(1): Constant time (e.g., array access).


- Θ(log n): Binary search.
- Θ(n): Linear search.
- Θ(n log n): Efficient sorting (e.g., Merge Sort).
- Θ(2ⁿ): Exponential growth, impractical for large n.

Chapter 3: Divide and Conquer Strategy

Merge Sort

Steps:
1. Divide: Split array into halves.
2. Conquer: Recursively sort subarrays.
3. Combine: Merge sorted halves.
Example: Sorting [3, 1, 4, 2] -> Divide into [3, 1] and [4, 2], sort, then merge.
Complexity: Θ(n log n).

Chapter 4: Sorting Algorithms

Slow Sorting Algorithms

Examples:
- Bubble Sort: Repeatedly swap adjacent elements if they are in the wrong order.
- Selection Sort: Select the smallest unsorted element and place it in order.
Complexity: Θ(n²).

Efficient Sorting

1. Merge Sort: Divide-and-conquer, Θ(n log n).


2. Heap Sort: Uses a heap data structure, Θ(n log n).
3. Quick Sort: Partition-based, average Θ(n log n), worst Θ(n²).

Chapter 5: Linear Time Sorting

Non-Comparison-Based Sorting

1. Counting Sort: Sorts integers by counting occurrences. Complexity: Θ(n).


2. Bucket Sort: Distributes elements into buckets, then sorts each. Best for uniformly
distributed data.
3. Radix Sort: Sorts digit by digit. Example: Sorting phone numbers by digits.
Chapter 6: Dynamic Programming

Fibonacci Sequence

Demonstrates overlapping subproblems. Recursive and memoized solutions avoid


redundant computations.
Example: F(n) = F(n-1) + F(n-2).

Edit Distance Problem

Applications: Spell check, DNA sequencing.


Algorithm: Uses a matrix to compute minimum changes required to convert one string to
another.
Complexity: Θ(mn), where m and n are string lengths.

0/1 Knapsack Problem

Given items with weights and values, maximize the total value without exceeding the weight
limit.
Algorithm: DP table to track maximum values for weight limits.

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