CIS 775, Analysis of Algorithms, Fall 2020
Summary
This course (3 credit hours) teaches important concepts
involved in the design and analysis of algorithms.
Prerequisites
Students are expected to have the following background:
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significant experience with programming in some
high-level programming language
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familiarity with standard data structures such as lists, trees, graphs, etc.
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understanding of fundamental mathematics such as:
basic set theory, propositional and predicate logic, functions, solution of equations, limits, summations,
derivatives and integrals, combinatorics
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ability to write rigorous proofs.
Logistics
This semester, this course can be successfully completed online, without ever showing up on campus!
Lecture notes and video lectures will be posted on Canvas, as will quizzes, assignments, and exams.
Personnel
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Instructor:
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Torben Amtoft,
tamtoft hat ksu dot edu
Weekly Schedule
Meeting agendas
At least 24 hours before regular class time,
the instructor will have posted lecture notes and video lectures.
Our two weekly meetings will therefore not contain lectures but instead
be conducted as follows:
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the instructor may talk about recent, or upcoming, assignments
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along the way, or afterwards, students may ask questions,
about the assignments, about current or recent course material, etc
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while answering those questions, the instructor may elaborate on
his lectures, in particular work out further examples
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when the agenda for the meeting is exhausted, and there are no more questions,
the meeting will end (therefore aim to join from 8:05am!)
Zoom meetings will not be recorded, in the hope that
you will feel more free to ask questions. But when important points
of general interest are raised, the instructor will post a summary on Canvas.
The instructor will host a weekly office hour
at the time listed above. Depending on the number of students
attending, the waiting room facility may be used. These office hours
will not close prematurely; you may enter at any time during the listed
interval.
The Zoom meetings require passwords which will be posted on Canvas.
Communication
Please email the instructor directly, rather than thru Canvas messaging.
Even though the instructor usually (to decrease disruption of productivity)
checks his inbox only a few times each day, it is his goal that you should expect an email answer no later than on the next business day. So if you send an email on Friday, we will aim to get back to you the next day the university holds classes (which will typically be Monday), but very often even earlier.
For questions (or comments) of general interest,
we strongly encourage that you post in the Canvas discussion forum
so that also other students will benefit from the answers.
We even encourage you to answer questions from other students
(of course you should not give more hints towards solutions
than you would reasonably expect the instructor to give).
Course Material
Textbooks
While it is possible to successfully complete the course
by studying only the material posted on Canvas,
we recommend some deeper reading
(the posted lecture notes will contain references to
specific sections):
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Introduction to Algorithms
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by Thomas H Cormen & Charles E Leiserson &
Ronald L Rivest & Clifford Stein,
3rd Ed., MIT Press, 2009.
This renowned book is a useful reference
which could be very helpful even in your future career.
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Algorithms:
A Top-Down Approach
- by Rodney Howell, 9th draft.
This online textbook is designed to provide motivation that will
help you to learn and appreciate the various topics.
Expected Outcome
Students should master the following knowledge and skills:
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The design of efficient algorithms
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Mathematical analysis of algorithms
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Mathematical rigor in solving theoretical problems
In addition, students should become familiar with NP-completeness
and related topics.
Grading
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Assignments: 30%
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After-class quizzes: 20%
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Exam 1: 20%
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Exam 2: 30%
Final letter grades are not based on strict percentage cutoffs but are
"curved" by taking into account the difficulty of the exercises and
exams.
As a rule of thumb, however, you should expect
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to earn an A will require around 85%
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to earn a B will require almost 70%
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to earn a C will require somewhat more than 50%
In general, my approach to grading is expressed well by
this
piece by S.A. Miller.
Assignments
are due almost every Thursday (before class)
and are to be submitted through Canvas.
Exams
will be open book/notes, and will be
given online (as Canvas quizzes).
The second exam will be
comprehensive
(but with some emphasis on the latter part of the course).
Both exams will be proctored, using Examity.
Grievances
If you think the instructor or the TAs have made an error when grading your test or your homework, you are of course very welcome to ask for clarification. But complaints about judgment calls, like how much credit to give for a partially correct solution, are not encouraged (it is like arguing balls and strikes).
Kansas State University has an Honor and Integrity System based on personal integrity, which is presumed to be sufficient assurance that, in academic matters, one's work is performed honestly and without unauthorized assistance. Undergraduate and graduate students, by registration, acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Honor and Integrity System. The policies and procedures of the Honor and Integrity System apply to all full and part-time students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate courses on-campus, off-campus, and via distance learning. A component vital to the Honor and Integrity System is the inclusion of the Honor Pledge which applies to all assignments, examinations, or other course work undertaken by students. The Honor Pledge is implied, whether or not it is stated: "On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work." A grade of XF can result from a breach of academic honesty. The F indicates failure in the course; the X indicates the reason is an Honor Pledge violation.
You are very welcome to discuss the course material, as well as
specific questions, with your fellow students.
However, all submitted
answers must be your own work:
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You are not allowed to consult previous model solutions that
may be around, or solicit the Internet for solutions to
specific homework problems
(but you are very welcome
to search for general material that gives alternative presentations
of the topics of the course!)
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You are not allowed to show your
answers to, or look at the answers of, any other student --- this of course
excludes any student that you have been allowed to team up with,
but in such a case each of you must be able to understand and explain
all parts of the submitted work.
If you are in doubt about what is permissible, please ask me.
I very much hope that it will not be
necessary to file any honor pledge violation reports during the
semester!
Other Administrative Issues
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Lateness:
Late deliverables will not be graded,
with one exception: if you submit an assignment less than 12 hours
after the deadline, we will grade it, but afterwards subtract
20% of the score you earned.
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Missing Deliverables:
Given the highly unusual circumstances this year, we will not ask for
documentation for medical conditions, family emergencies,
official university activities, etc.
If you do not submit a deliverable, we will disregard it, that is, it
will not influence the final grade (which will be determined by the
scores on the deliverables that you do submit).
However, if you miss a number of deliverables that together count more
than 10% of the total grade, please contact the instructor. Depending on the
situation, he may in such cases assign a score of zero for some or all
of the missing deliverables,
or (if the bulk of course work has been completed in passing fashion)
assign you an Incomplete (I) for the course.
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Drop Policy: It is your responsibility to drop the course if you are enrolled but decide not to complete the course; there are no "automatic" drops due to nonattendance.
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Students with Disabilities
who need classroom accommodations, access to technology, or information about emergency building/campus evacuation processes should contact the Student Access Center and/or their instructor. Services are available to students with a wide range of disabilities including, but not limited to, physical disabilities, medical conditions, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, depression, and anxiety. If you are a student enrolled in campus/online courses through the Manhattan or Olathe campuses, contact the
Student Access Center
at accesscenter@k-state.edu, 785-532-6441.
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Expectations for Classroom Conduct:
All student activities in the University, including this course, are governed by the
Student Judicial Conduct Code
as outlined in the Student Governing Association By Laws, Article V, Section 3, number 2. Students who engage in behavior that disrupts the learning environment may be asked to leave the class.
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Copyright 2020 (Torben Amtoft) as to this syllabus and all lectures.
During this course students are prohibited from selling notes to or being paid for taking notes by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the professor teaching this course. In addition, students in this class are not authorized to provide class notes or other class-related materials to any other person or entity, other than sharing them directly with another student taking the class for purposes of studying, without prior written permission from the professor teaching this course.
Wearing of Face Coverings
To protect the health and safety of the K-State community, students, faculty, staff and visitors must wear face coverings over their mouths and noses while on K-State campuses in all hallways, public spaces, classrooms and other common areas of campus buildings, and when in offices or other work spaces or outdoor settings when 6-feet social distancing cannot be maintained. In addition, all students, faculty, and staff are required to take the
COVID-19 and Face Mask Safety training.
Employees who need reasonable accommodations and assistance related to required face coverings may contact the ADA coordinator at charlott@k-state.edu, and students needing accommodations may contact the Student Access Center at accesscenter@k-state.edu.
In classrooms, faculty have the right to deny a student entry into the room if the student is not wearing a face covering. Students not wearing a face covering will be reminded to do so and offered a clean face covering, if one is available. If the student does not comply, the faculty member will ask the student to leave the space, and if available, join the class remotely. As a last resort, campus police will be called. The faculty members will complete the
Code of Conduct form
and the Office of Student Life will look further into the issue and take the non-compliance with the request to leave into consideration of further accountability measures.
At no point should the professor or other students put themselves into an unsafe situation while attempting to enforce the face-covering policy. Manhattan campus police: 785-532-6412
Torben Amtoft