CP312 Course Introduction and Algorithm Design Fundamentals

What You Should Learn from CP312

• Main Idea: Given a problem, how to design an efficient algorithm that solves it.

• Learning Outcomes:

  • Learn good algorithms for basic problems.

  • Understand paradigms or ways to solve problems (e.g., Greedy, Divide & Conquer, Dynamic Programming).

  • Gain skills in proving algorithm correctness.

  • Learn how to assess algorithm efficiency.

Course Overview

• Introduction:

  • An example demonstrating how designing a better algorithm can lead to a faster program.

  • Review of core concepts: problem, algorithm, time complexity, and asymptotic notation.

• Algorithm Design Techniques:

  • Every problem requires an individual approach; there is no universal