Essential Algorithms

*** Source Code Note ***

Note that this book includes downloadable source code in Python and C#. The code used in the text is in pseudocode. (It would have been much longer and hence more expensive if it included Python and C# code in the text.)

A friendly introduction to the most useful algorithms written in simple, intuitive English

The revised and updated second edition of Essential Algorithms, offers an accessible introduction to computer algorithms. The book contains a description of important classical algorithms and explains when each is appropriate. The author shows how to analyze algorithms in order to understand their behavior and teaches techniques that the can be used to create new algorithms to meet future needs. The text includes useful algorithms such as: methods for manipulating common data structures, advanced data structures, network algorithms, and numerical algorithms. It also offers a variety of general problem-solving techniques.

In addition to describing algorithms and approaches, the author offers details on how to analyze the performance of algorithms. The book is filled with exercises that can be used to explore ways to modify the algorithms in order to apply them to new situations. This updated edition of Essential Algorithms:

• Contains explanations of algorithms in simple terms, rather than complicated math
• Steps through powerful algorithms that can be used to solve difficult programming problems
• Helps prepare for programming job interviews that typically include algorithmic questions
• Offers methods can be applied to any programming language
• Includes exercises and solutions useful to both professionals and students
• Provides code examples updated and written in Python and C#

Essential Algorithms has been updated and revised and offers professionals and students a hands-on guide to analyzing algorithms as well as the techniques and applications. The book also includes a collection of questions that may appear in a job interview. The book’s website will include reference implementations in Python and C# (which can be easily applied to Java and C++).

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Algorithm Basics

Chapter 2 Numerical Algorithms

Chapter 3 Linked Lists

Chapter 4 Arrays

Chapter 5 Stacks and Queues

Chapter 6 Sorting

Chapter 7 Searching

Chapter 8 Hash Tables

Chapter 9 Recursion

Chapter 10 Trees

Chapter 11 Balanced Trees

Chapter 12 Decision Trees

Chapter 13 Basic Network Algorithms

Chapter 14 More Network Algorithms

Chapter 15 String Algorithms

Chapter 16 Cryptography

Chapter 17 Complexity Theory

Chapter 18 Distributed Algorithms

Chapter 19 Interview Puzzles

Appendix A Summary of Algorithmic Concepts

Appendix B Solutions to Exercises

About the Author

Rod Stephens began his career as a mathematician, but while at MIT he was lured into the intriguing world of algorithms and has been programming ever since. An award-winning instructor, he regularly addresses conferences and has written more than 30 books that have been translated into nearly a dozen languages.