Home Page for CMSC451 Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms, Fall 2014

CMSC451 Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms, Fall 2014

Instructor: Aravind Srinivasan
Class Venue and Time: CSI 3120, TuTh 12:30-1:45pm

Administrative Details

Instructor: Aravind Srinivasan
Office: AVW 3263, Phone: 301-405-2695
Instructor's Office Hours: Tue 10-11AM, Thurs 11AM-12PM in AVW 3263, or by appointment (please email Aravind)
TA: Brian Brubach (bbrubach AT cs.umd)
TA Office Hours: Mon, Wed 10:30-11:30AM in AVW 4103
Course Time and Location: Tue, Thu 12:30-1:45, CSIC 3120
Course Webpage: http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/fall2014/cmsc451/index.html

Course Overview

This course presents the fundamental techniques for designing efficient computer algorithms, proving their correctness, and analyzing their complexity. General topics include the following; also, given the expected needs of Data Science (Big Data), we will place added emphasis on probability/statistics, sublinear algorithms, and linear algebra.

CMSC 351 is the prerequisite. Each student is expected to know the basic concepts of programming (e.g. loops, pointers, recursion), discrete mathematics (proof by induction, sets), simple data structures (lists, stacks, queues, trees, heaps), and calculus (logarithms, differentiation, integration). We will assume knowledge of the basic algorithm-analysis techniques covered in CMSC 351. All course materials, including the homework and project, will be posted on Piazza. The coursework will consist of 5-7 homework assignments, a small project and two exams (one midterm and a comprehensive final). Homework problems will be mathematically oriented.

Homeworks are to be turned in at the start of class on the due date. Since homework solutions will be handed out on the day the homework is due, no late homeworks will be accepted. All homeworks are to be done independently, with no help from the web or other sources. If you have questions, please talk to the TA or the Instructor. Assignments are to be written up neatly. Please staple your homework. It is your responsibility to make sure that you pick up all homeworks and handouts. All course information and handouts will be available on the class web page.

The topics, times and order listed in the syllabus next are tentative and are subject to change:

Topics, Schedule, and Online Resources

This course will use Piazza as a tool for communication between students, TA, and Instructor. The schedule for the next few lectures will always be available on Piazza. You are very strongly encouraged to bring your questions to office hours. In addition, you may consider checking Piazza and posting questions there. Students are also encouraged to contribute answers to questions posed by others.

Grading, Homework, and Exams

Final grades will be based on homework assignments, the project, the midterm exam, and the comprehensive final exam with relative weights as follows:

Course Evaluation

Students are strongly encouraged to complete their course evaluations; please do so at the CourseEvalUM website when it is ready.  

Excused Absences

See the university's policy on medically-necessitated absence from class. The "Major Scheduled Grading Events" for this course are the mid-term and final exams; students claiming an excused absence from these events must apply in writing and furnish documentary support (such as from a health-care professional who treated the student) for any assertion that the absence qualifies as an excused absence. The support should explicitly indicate the dates or times the student was incapacitated due to illness. Self-documentation of illness is not itself sufficient support to excuse the absence. An instructor is not under obligation to offer a substitute assignment or to give a student a make-up assessment unless the failure to perform was due to an excused absence.

Academic Accommodations for Disabilities

Any student eligible for and requesting reasonable academic accommodations due to a disability is requested to provide, to the instructor in office hours, a letter of accommodation from the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) within the first two weeks of the semester.

Academic Integrity

The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.studentconduct.umd.edu.

To further exhibit your commitment to academic integrity, remember to sign the Honor Pledge on all examinations and assignments: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (assignment)."

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