MA407      Half Unit
Algorithms and Computation

This information is for the 2013/14 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Julia Boettcher

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Applicable Mathematics, MSc in Statistics, MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics), MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics) (Research) and MSc in Statistics (Research). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The course is compulsory for students on the MSc Applicable Mathematics who are not taking MA421 Advanced Algorithms; it is optional for students on the MSc Applicable Mathematics who take the advanced course. 

Pre-requisites

Good general knowledge of mathematics, including familiarity with abstract concepts. A willingness to cope with technical details of computer usage, and with a rapid introduction to programming.

Course content

Introduction to programming in Java.  Introduction to the theory of algorithms: running time and correctness of an algorithm.  Recursion.  Data structures:  arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, binary search trees.  Sorting algorithms.  Greedy algorithms.  Dynamic programming.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures, 20 hours of seminars, 9 hours of workshops and 9 hours of help sessions in the MT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.

Formative coursework

Weekly exercises are set and marked. Many of these will require implementation of programming exercises in Java.

Indicative reading

T H Cormen, C E Leiserson, R L Rivest and C Stein, Introduction to Algorithms; R Sedgewick, K Wayne, Introduction to programming in Java; D Flanagan, Java in a Nutshell.

Assessment

Exam (75%, duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes) in the main exam period.
Project (25%) in the MT.

Key facts

Department: Mathematics

Total students 2012/13: 34

Average class size 2012/13: 36

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills

Course survey results

(2010/11 - 2012/13 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 54.9%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.3

Materials (Q2.3)

2.1

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

2.3

Lectures (Q2.5)

2.4

Integration (Q2.6)

2.1

Contact (Q2.7)

2.1

Feedback (Q2.8)

2.4

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

40.6%

Maybe

44.3%

No

15.1%