Description This course surveys the most important algorithms and data structures in use on computers today. Particular emphasis is given to algorithms for sorting, searching, and string processing. Fundamental algorithms in a number of other areas are covered as well, including geometric and graph algorithms. The course will concentrate on developing implementations, understanding their performance characteristics, and estimating their potential effectiveness in applications.
Prerequisites COS 126 or ISC 231-234 or approval by the COS placement officer.
Lectures Available as studio-produced videos for you to watch at your own pace.
Class meetings Class meetings are held twice per week, Tues/Thurs 11:00-11:50am.
Precepts. We cover details pertinent to programming assignments and exams. You should come to precept prepared to participate in the discussion, not just ask questions.
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Required reading. Algorithms, 4th Edition by Robert Sedgewick and Kevin WayneAddison-Wesley Professional, 2011, ISBN 0-321-57351-X. |
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 Robert Sedgewick Faculty Instructor |
 Maia Ginsburg Faculty Lead Preceptor |
 Jérémie Lumbroso Faculty Lead Preceptor |
 Ranjana Addanki Graduate Student Preceptor |
 Hussein Nagree Graduate Student Preceptor |
 Yiran Fan Graduate Student Preceptor |
 Mikkel Kringelbach Graduate Student Preceptor |
Office Hours. You are welcome to attend the office hours of any staff member. Office hours begin Weds, Sept 21 2016.
| TIME | ROOM | PERSON | OFFICE | HOURS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L01 | T Th 11–12:20pm |
Friend 101 |
Robert Sedgewick rs At cs.princeton.edu |
CS 319 |
Mon 12:30–1:30 Tue 12:30–1:30 |
| P01 | Fri 9:00–9:50am |
Friend 108 |
Maia Ginsburg † maia At cs.princeton.edu |
CS 205 |
Sat 2:00 - 4:00 pm in Lewis 121 |
| P02 | Fri 10:00–10:50am |
Friend 108 |
Jérémie Lumbroso † lumbroso At cs.princeton.edu |
CS 209 |
click here to book appointment on Tue 2:00 - 3:00pm in CS 233 Thur 12:00 - 1:00pm in CS 233 |
| P03 | Fri 11:00–11:50pm |
Friend 108 |
Ranjana L. Addanki raddanki At cs.princeton.edu |
CS 003 |
Thurs 1:00 - 3:00 PM |
| P03A | Fri 11:00–11:50pm |
Friend 112 |
Jérémie Lumbroso † lumbroso At cs.princeton.edu |
CS 209 |
(see above) |
| Yiran (Irene) Fan yiranf At cs.princeton.edu |
Friend 010 |
Fri 12:30 - 2:30pm | |||
| P04 | Fri 12:30–1:20pm |
Friend 108 |
Hussein Nagree hnagree At cs.princeton.edu |
CS 003 | Weds 1:30 - 3:30 PM |
| P05 | Fri 1:30–2:20pm |
Friend 009 |
Mikkel Kringelbach Mikkelk At cs.princeton.edu |
Friend 010 | Mon 1:30pm - 2:30 PM Fri 2:30 - 3:30 PM |
| P06 | Thu 3:30–4:20pm |
Friend 009 |
Maia Ginsburg † maia At cs.princeton.edu |
CS 205 |
Sat 2:00 - 4:00 pm in Lewis 121 |
| † co-lead preceptors |
Need to switch into a full precept? Please contact Colleen Kenny-McGinley.
Updated as of Sep 19. Your grade for the course will be based on the following components:
Discretion includes participating in precepts, and answering forum posts on Piazza. Occasionally, we make mistakes. To request a regrade, write a brief note indicating the perceived mistake by the grader; attach it to your graded work; and give it to your preceptor within two weeks of when the graded work was returned.
Course website. The course website http://www.princeton.edu/~cos226 includes links to course content, including programming assignments, exercises, lecture slides, and old exams. You will also use it to submit programming assignments.
Booksite.There are many resources that you can find at the booksite http://algs4.cs.princeton.edu/home/
Piazza. Piazza is an online forum where you can ask and answer short questions.
Programming assignments. The programming assignments involve applying the material from lecture to solve problems in science, engineering, and commerce.
Exercises. The exercises consist of short drill questions on the material in the lectures and readings. They are done within Quizzera, and are due each Friday (most weeks) at 11:00 PM.
Exams. All exams are in-class exams. Dates are listed on the meetings web page.
Computers. You may develop your programs on any machine that you like: we encourage you to use your own equipment. We provide instructions for setting up a Java programming environment under Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
Laboratories. Undergraduate lab TAs are available to answer general computing questions in Lewis 121. They can assist you in debugging, provided you have first made a reasonable effort to identify the bug and isolate the problem. If you have questions regarding the course material or programming assignments, see your preceptor or instructor.