Computer Science 226
Algorithms and Data Structures
Spring 2009


Course Information | Assignments | Exercises | Lectures | Administration

COURSE INFORMATION

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 COS 217 or permission of instructor.

Instructor.   Robert Sedgewick, CS 319, 258-4345, rs@cs. Office hours: Wednesdays at 3PM in CS 319.

Lectures.   MW 11-12:20, Frist 302. Attendance is required. You are responsible for all material presented in lecture; some of that material is not covered in the textbooks.

Preceptors and Precepts.   Preceptors will have office hours the week of May 4th and May 11th as shown in the schedule below. You should come to precept prepared to participate in the discussion, not just ask questions.  

        TIME      ROOM    PERSON    OFFICE      HOURS           EMAIL       
P01 Th
12:30pm
CS102 Moritz
Hardt
CS
103A
Wednesday 7:30-8:30pm
Thursday 7:30-8:30pm
both in Friend 017
mhardt@cs
P01A Th
12:30pm
Friend 108 Maia
Ginsburg
(lead preceptor)
CS
205
Tuesday 12:30-1:30
Thursday 1:30-2:30
maia@cs
P02 Th
1:30pm
Friend 008 Martin Suchara CS
003
Wednesday 5:00-6:00
Monday 1:00-2:00
msuchara@cs
P03 Th
3:30pm
Friend 109 Aravindan
Vijayaraghavan
CS
103A
Friday 7:30-8:30pm
Monday 7:30-8:30pm
in Friend 017
aravindv@cs

Grades.   Your grade for the course will be based on the following components: programming assignments: (45%), midterm exam: (15%), final exam: (25%), and exercises (15%), and staff discretion.

Course website.   The COS 226 website is

http://www.princeton.edu/~cos226
It includes links to course content, including lecture slides, programming assignments, and exercises. You will also use it to submit programming assignments and check grades.

Course mailing list.   Each precept will have a mailing list.

Textbooks.   The course textbooks are:

You are expected to read the books, particularly the parts that cover the same ground as lectures. They contain a wealth of information beyond what we can cover in lecture that are certain to enhance your understanding of the course material. While you are not responsible for reading about topics that we do not cover in lecture or that are beyond the scope of the course, you are responsible for exercising good judgment about choosing what to read.

Booksites.   You can also find an extensive amount of supplementary information at the booksites

http://www.cs.princeton.edu/IntroProgramming

http://www.cs.princeton.edu/algs4

These are intended to supplement the text. Using them is highly recommended, but is no substitute for reading the books!

Programming assignments.   There will be eight programming assignments. These involve applying the material from lecture to solve problems in science, engineering, and commerce.

Exercises.   There will also be weekly exercises. These will consist of short questions on the material in the lectures and readings.

Exams.   There will be an in-class midterm exam on the last lecture before break and a final exam as scheduled by the Registrar. Here is an archive of old exams.

Computers.   You may develop your programs on any machine that you like: we encourage you to use your own equipment. We provide instructions for for setting up a Java programming environment under Windows, OS X, and Linux.

Labs.   We hire undergraduate lab assistants who are available to answer general computing questions in the Friend 016 and 017 labs. Lab TAs 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.

Important note.   Please do not publish solutions to programming assignments in a way that could compromise their utility as pedagogical tools. At Princeton, this is a violation of the basic rights, rules and responsibilities of members of the university community.

Copyright.   All rights reserved. None of this material may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission. Permission is granted to instructors who adopt Algorithms in Java to use this supplemental material in conjunction with their course.

Short history of credits.   These course materials have been under development by Robert Sedgewick since at least 1978. The lecture notes and assignments were rewritten by Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne in 2003-2009.