This course provides an introduction of algorithms and data structures.
This course uses Python programming language to implement algorithms.
By combining lectures and exercises, the course enabls students to understand the fundamentals of programming to solve computational problem.
At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:
1) learn how to use the Python language.
2) understand basic data structures and algorithms.
3) understand the difference in efficiency of algorithms.
4) implement computing algorithms to solve problems.
Python, Programming, Algorithms
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
The first two-thids of each class is lecture and the rest for exercises of programming.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Review (numbers, strings, list) | Understand the usage of numbers, strings, and lists. |
Class 2 | Review (for statements, if statements) | Understand the usage of for statements and if statements. |
Class 3 | String operations (formatting, pattern match, regex) | Acquire skills in manipulating character strings with basic operations. |
Class 4 | Plane geometry (line segment intersection, ditance of a point to a line, convex hull) | Understand how to calculate convex hull. |
Class 5 | Random number (uniform distribution, normal distribution, generation) | Explain how random number generators work. |
Class 6 | Statistics (data processing, fitting) | Process data using statistical methods. |
Class 7 | Computational complexity (Big O notation) | Explain the computational complexity. |
Class 8 | Stack and Queue (depth first search and breadth first search) | Explain the difference between the depth first search and the breadth first search. |
Class 9 | Binary tree (heap, binary search tree) | Understand heap and binary search tree. |
Class 10 | Sorting algorithms (bubble sort, heap sort, quick sort, merge sort) | Explain the difference between the sorting algorithms. |
Class 11 | Backtracking (N queen problem, Sudoku) | Explain how backtracking works. |
Class 12 | Dynamic programming (Knapsack problem) | Explain how dynamic programming works. |
Class 13 | Shortest path problem (Warshall-Floyd, Bellman-Ford algorithms) | Understand the methods to solve shortest path problem. |
Class 14 | Travelling salesman problem | Understand the methods to solve traveling salesman problem. |
Class 15 | Final exam |
None required.
Guido van Rossum: Python Tutorial.
Mark Lutz: Learning Python
Learning achievement is evaluated by a final exam.
Students must have completed Computer Programming (Industrial Engineering and Economics) or have equivalent knowledge.