Introduction to Algorithms — Lecture Summary (Fictional Sample)
SAMPLE DOCUMENT — FICTIONAL. NOT AN OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY DOCUMENT.
Cover Note
THIS IS A FICTIONAL SAMPLE: These lecture notes are created for study/example purposes only and
are NOT an official university document. / ESTE É UM EXEMPLO FICTÍCIO: Estes apontamentos são
apenas para estudo/exemplo e NÃO são um documento oficial de universidade.
Overview
Core algorithmic ideas: time complexity (Big-O), recursion and divide-and-conquer, greedy
algorithms, dynamic programming, basic data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues,
binary trees, hash tables).
Key Concepts
1. Asymptotic notation: O, Θ, Ω 2. Master theorem for divide-and-conquer recurrences 3.
Examples: merge sort, quicksort, binary search 4. Greedy algorithm design and correctness
proofs 5. Dynamic programming pattern (memoization vs tabulation) 6. Graph algorithms: BFS,
DFS, Dijkstra's algorithm.
Detailed Examples
Walkthrough of merge sort with recurrence T(n)=2T(n/2)+Θ(n). Dynamic programming example:
longest common subsequence (LCS) and knapsack 0/1 formulation with table filling.
Coding Tips & Pitfalls
Common mistakes: off-by-one in indices, forgetting base cases in recursion, not handling equal
keys in quicksort pivoting, integer overflow in cost calculations.
Exercises
Implement BFS and compute shortest path lengths in an unweighted graph. Formulate and solve the
LCS for two sample strings.
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