Today morning, Prof. Diwan discussed the solutions to the first two midsem problems in his course CS218, "Design and Analysis of Algorithms". I feel privileged to have the opportunity to learn from him. I feel, however, that I will gain much more if I put in more sustained and regular effort into his course than I have done so far.
A belated New Year's resolution: For the next two months, until semester end, I shall spend the morning hours between 8:00 and 12:00 (when I am not attending a lecture) working on either:
(a) Kleinberg and Tardos's book, "Algorithm Design" and/or
(b) Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest and Stein's "Introduction to Algorithms"
The time will be spent on trying to solve problems and/or studying the solved examples in these books. I intend to sit at the Gulmohar Garden cafeteria. Plus I shall spend at least one full day in addition on the course. (Most probably Wednesday evening and as much of Thursday as possible). During this time, I shall go over the material that Prof. Diwan has discussed in class, and/or have discussions with my classmates and/or try tutorial problems suggested in class.
This would mean an investment of 2.5 hours every morning, at least during weekdays (Monday thru Friday). For a total of 12.5 hours per week at least, counting only the weekday morning sessions.
At the semester end, I will note how well I have stuck to this resolution.
I wonder if I am being too ambitious.
A belated New Year's resolution: For the next two months, until semester end, I shall spend the morning hours between 8:00 and 12:00 (when I am not attending a lecture) working on either:
(a) Kleinberg and Tardos's book, "Algorithm Design" and/or
(b) Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest and Stein's "Introduction to Algorithms"
The time will be spent on trying to solve problems and/or studying the solved examples in these books. I intend to sit at the Gulmohar Garden cafeteria. Plus I shall spend at least one full day in addition on the course. (Most probably Wednesday evening and as much of Thursday as possible). During this time, I shall go over the material that Prof. Diwan has discussed in class, and/or have discussions with my classmates and/or try tutorial problems suggested in class.
This would mean an investment of 2.5 hours every morning, at least during weekdays (Monday thru Friday). For a total of 12.5 hours per week at least, counting only the weekday morning sessions.
At the semester end, I will note how well I have stuck to this resolution.
I wonder if I am being too ambitious.
CLRS is a great book. I used it for an algorithms course in BU (2003). I almost flunked the course because I didn't take it too seriously. Hey, if I can program then surely I don't need an algorithms course, right? That was my attitude, though I didn't realize it at the time.
ReplyDeleteNachiket
Nachiket, good to hear from you. I hope to try to develop some degree of mastery of algorithmic design techniques over the next year or so of my PhD program, and there is a nontrivial possibility that my PhD problems will involve developing algorithms of various kinds. (Would love it if it did).
ReplyDelete