Scribd
Upload
50 views18 pages

1 Intro 1 Whystudyalgorithms

This document introduces algorithms and the types of problems they address. It will focus on "algorithms problems" - problems that are not straightforward to solve, where the solution is unclear and simple approaches are too slow, leaving room for algorithmic optimization. These are contrasted with "straightforward programming problems" that have natural efficient solutions and "artificial intelligence problems" that are difficult to even define clearly.

Uploaded by

ronaldo.zani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
50 views18 pages

1 Intro 1 Whystudyalgorithms

This document introduces algorithms and the types of problems they address. It will focus on "algorithms problems" - problems that are not straightforward to solve, where the solution is unclear and simple approaches are too slow, leaving room for algorithmic optimization. These are contrasted with "straightforward programming problems" that have natural efficient solutions and "artificial intelligence problems" that are difficult to even define clearly.

Uploaded by

ronaldo.zani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Intro:

Why Study
Algorithms?

Daniel Kane
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
University of California, San Diego

Data Structures and Algorithms


Algorithmic Toolbox
Learning Objectives
Understand the type of problem that
will be covered in this class.
Recognize some problems for which
sophisticated algorithms might not be
necessary.
Describe some artificial intelligence
problems which go beyond the scope of
this course.
Straightforward Programming
Problems

Has straightforward implementation.


Natural solution is already efficient.
Display given text
Copy a File
Search for a Given Word
Search for a Given Word

Linear Scan.
Simple Programming Problems

Has linear scan.


Cannot do much better.
The obvious program works.
Algorithms Problems

Not so clear what to do.


Find the Shortest Path Between
Locations
Find the Best Assignment of
Students to Dorm Rooms
Measure Similarity of Documents
Algorithms Problems

Not clear how to do


Simple ideas too slow
Room for optimization
Artificial Intelligence Problems

Hard to even clearly state.


Understand Natural Language
Identify Objects In Photographs
Play Games Well
What Well Cover

Focus on algorithms problems.


Clearly formulated.
Hard to do efficiently.

You might also like