MA314      Half Unit
Algorithms in Java

This information is for the 2013/14 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Konrad Swanepoel

Availability

This course is available on the BSc in Business Mathematics and Statistics, BSc in Mathematics and Economics, BSc in Mathematics with Economics and BSc in Statistics with Finance. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course is available with permission to General Course students.

Pre-requisites

Familiarity with abstract concepts, advisable course Introduction to Abstract Mathematics (MA103). Willingness to cope with technical details of computer programming.

Course content

Basics of Java programming. The Euclidean algorithm. Time complexity of algorithms. Asymptotic notation. Heaps. Sorting. Recursive algorithms. Stacks and queues. Linked lists. Graphs. Breadth-first and depth-first search. Connectivity and topological sorting. Dijkstra's algorithm.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the MT. 1 hour of classes in the LT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.

Formative coursework

Written answers to set problems will be expected on a weekly basis.

Indicative reading

T H Cormen, C E Leiserson & R L Rivest, Introduction to Algorithms, MIT Press 1990 (or 2nd edn, 2001 or 3rd edn, 2009); J R Hubbard, Programming with Java, Schaum's outlines, McGraw-Hill, 2nd edn, 2004; D Flanagan, Java in a Nutshell, 3rd edn, or later, O'Reilly 1999

Assessment

Exam (80%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Project (20%) in the MT.

Key facts

Department: Mathematics

Total students 2012/13: 12

Average class size 2012/13: 12

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

PDAM 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: 58.3%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.2

Materials (Q2.3)

1.8

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.6

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.6

Integration (Q2.6)

1.6

Contact (Q2.7)

1.4

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.8

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

78.6%

Maybe

21.4%

No

0%