Foundations of Algorithms

Subject COMP10002 (2012)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 1 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

On campus only



Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 36 one-hour lectures (three per week) and 12 two-hour workshops (one per week)
Total Time Commitment:

120 hours

Prerequisites:
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1, Semester 2
12.50

OR

Achieving at least 75% in a programming competency test.

Corequisites:

None

Recommended Background Knowledge:

None

Non Allowed Subjects:

Subject

433-172 Algorithmic Problem Solving

433 152-Algorithmic Problem Solving

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Prof Alistair Moffat

Contact

Associate Professor Tim Baldwin

email:tbaldwin@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

In many projects, it is important for programmers to have fine control over low-level details of program execution. This subject introduces students to a system programming language that gives programmers this kind of control, and shows how to apply standard algorithmic solutions to frequently encountered problems. Topics covered include: introduction to computer organization; machine level representation of data; programming in a system programming language; pointers and dynamic memory allocation; propositional logic; induction and recursion; basic searching algorithms (linear and binary); basic sorting algorithms (such as selection sort, insertion sort or quicksort); basic data structures (binary search trees and hash tables); asymptotic complexity; standard software development tools such as debuggers.

Objectives:

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Read, write and debug simple sorting and searching algorithms
  • Read, write and debug code using standard data structures such as binary search trees and hash tables
  • Present arguments for the correctness or incorrectness of a given algorithm
  • Choose between different algorithms for simple problems by analysing their complexity
  • Read, write and debug typical small scale programs in a system programming language such as C
  • Use a command line interface for programming.
Assessment:
  • Project work during semester, expected to take about 36 hours (30%)
  • A mid-semester test (10%)
  • A 3-hour end-of-semester written examination (60%)

To pass the subject, students must obtain at least 50% overall

  • 15/30 in project work
  • And 35/70 in the mid-semester test and end-of-semester written examination combined.
Prescribed Texts:

None

Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On completion of this subject students should have the:

  • An ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals
  • An ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
  • The capacity to solve problems, including through the collection and evaluation of information
  • The capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection
  • An expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning, and the capacity to do so
Notes:

This subject is available for science credit to students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 and new degrees), BASc or a combined BSc course. Students undertaking this subject will be expected to regularly access an internet-enabled computer.

Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Science credit subjects* for pre-2008 BSc, BASc and combined degree science courses
Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI and B-ENG. Core selective subjects for B-BMED.
Related Breadth Track(s): Computing

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