Algorithms

and

Data Structures

Lonce Wyse

KTH Learning Presentation

lonce.wyse@cnm.nus.sg

What we will cover

• Abstract lists and structures
  • ​lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs
• Complexity measures​
• Sorting algorithm
• Algorithm Design

Why?

• Critical such computer areas as : 
  • Graphics and Games
  • System Design 
  • Networking
• Today, every science is data science
  • Computational Biology  (structure modeling)
  • Smart Cities  (scheduling, mapping)
  • Simulation/Visualization
  • Social Science​ (big data)

Course Structure

• 1 hour/week lecture
• 2-hour/week lab
  • group challenges
  • open discussion with tutor support
  • Last 45 minutes for student presentations
• ​Outside class
  • ​Reading, video, on-line tutorial
  • Weekly assignment

Weekly Assignments 

• Coding and writing
  • Handed in through the LMS
  • All assignments submitted on-line
    • Must run
    • Must be supported with documentation
      • ​in addition, and within code
• Most assignments may be done in *pairs*
  • Colocated or networked
    • e.g. Sublime + floobits

Grading 

• Weekly assignments
  • 40%
• Lab work (group)
  • ​20%
• Midterm & Final
  • ​20% & 20%

Resources 

• Your fellow students
• Your fellow students​
• Course LMS site
  • ​syllabus
  • pointers to additional (optional) reading source
  • Forums (electronic version of "your fellow students"
• ​Facilitator (me) and tutor office hourse

What is so important about structures? 

Haven't we discovered which one is best yet? 

Form and Function 

http://www.archdaily.com/tag/singapore/page/11/

http://3blmedia.com/News/AECOMs-Safety-Culture-Pays-Abu-Dhabi-International-Airport

Designing Data Structures

• Efficiency
  • Time
  • Space

Dependent on context

Common operations

• Access a particular element
  • search
• Insert a new data element
  • modify
• Sort

Data Structure Examples

• "Node" : Data  & Pointers

• Linked list

• Binary tree

How long to find a particular node

(worst case) as a function of the side of the data (n) ?

Double data size 

How long to find a particular node

(worst case) as a function of the side of the data (n) ?

Double data size 

new node

Complexity & the Big-O

How algorithm complexity grows with data size 

"Order"

See you in the lab!

See you in the lab!