Introduction to Algorithms and Informatics        Spring 2010

Prof. David Avis                          Wed 10:30-12          Course home page


Assessment:

1. Participation and mini-reports (40%)

2. Final report (60%)

Students will use online software to solve problems using algorithms studied in class. In the final report, each student will research and describe an important algorithm that is used in their own area of interest.


Topics:   Subject to revision.

1. The early history of algorithms and informatics

2. Graphs and networks as models: stable matchings

3. Shortest paths

4. The PageRank algorithm

5. Programming and compilers

6. Cryptography and data security

7. Algorithms for privacy and authentication

8. Modeling and optimization

9. The Monte Carlo method

10. The internet and basic routing algorithms

11. Where is data stored and who controls it?

12. Is there any such thing as privacy?

  1. How do computers deal with images?

  2. Can computers learn?

  3. Can computers think?




March 17, 2010