Design and Analysis of Algorithms (CS 201) - Semester 3 BCA at BAECV

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Overview

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Why it matters

Algorithms ARE computer science. Every optimization, every search engine, every recommendation system is algorithms. This subject separates good programmers from great engineers.

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Placement relevance

THE MOST IMPORTANT subject for placements. 100% of tech interviews test algorithms. Google, Amazon, Microsoft — all ask DP, Graphs, Greedy. This subject = your salary. Non-negotiable for FAANG.

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Prerequisites for

Competitive Programming · Machine Learning · System Design · Advanced Data Structures · Cryptography · Bioinformatics

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Recommended books

Introduction to Algorithms by Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest, Stein (CLRS) · Algorithm Design by Jon Kleinberg and Éva Tardos · The Algorithm Design Manual by Steven Skiena · Algorithms by Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne

Curriculum — 3 Units

U1

Unit 1 · 4 Topics · 0% complete

Algorithm Fundamentals

⚡ Key Formulae

Big O Hierarchy:O(1) < O(log n) < O(n) < O(n log n) < O(n²) < O(2ⁿ) < O(n!)

Master Theorem:T(n) = aT(n/b) + f(n); Compare f(n) with n^(log_b a)

Recurrence:T(n) = T(n-1) + O(1) → O(n); T(n) = 2T(n/2) + O(n) → O(n log n)

Algorithm Analysis

Asymptotic Notation

Recurrence Relations

Master Theorem

U2

Unit 2 · 5 Topics · 0% complete

Sorting & Searching

⚡ Key Formulae

Merge Sort:T(n) = 2T(n/2) + O(n) = O(n log n); Space O(n)

Quick Sort:Avg O(n log n), Worst O(n²); Space O(log n)

Binary Search:T(n) = T(n/2) + O(1) = O(log n)

Merge Sort

Quick Sort

Heap Sort

Binary Search

Hashing

U3

Unit 3 · 4 Topics · 0% complete

Advanced Algorithms

⚡ Key Formulae

DP Pattern:dp[i] = optimal(dp[i-1], dp[i-2], ...)

Dijkstra:O((V + E) log V) with min-heap

BFS/DFS:O(V + E) time, O(V) space

Dynamic Programming

Greedy Algorithms

Graph Algorithms

Backtracking

Previous Year Questions

Unit 32023 · End Semester10 marks

Solve the 0/1 Knapsack problem using Dynamic Programming for items with weights [2,3,4,5] and values [3,4,5,6], capacity W=8. Show the DP table.

Unit 22023 · Mid Semester8 marks

Implement Quick Sort. Analyze best, average, and worst case time complexity. When does worst case occur? How to avoid it?

Unit 32023 · End Semester10 marks

Apply Dijkstra's algorithm to find shortest path from vertex A to all other vertices. Graph given with 6 vertices and weighted edges. Show step-by-step process.

Unit 32022 · End Semester8 marks

Explain the Greedy approach. Solve Activity Selection Problem: Given activities with start times [1,3,0,5,8,5] and finish times [2,4,6,7,9,9], find maximum activities.

Exam Strategy

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ALWAYS write time complexity

Every algorithm question asks for complexity analysis. Missing Big O = -2 to -3 marks automatically. Write: Best case, Average case, Worst case, Space complexity.

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DP = table + recurrence

DP questions: 1) Define state, 2) Write recurrence relation, 3) Draw table, 4) Fill table bottom-up, 5) Extract answer. Show the table even if you can't complete the solution — partial marks.

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Graph algorithms need diagrams

BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, Prim — always draw the graph. Show visited nodes, queue/stack states. Step-by-step visualization earns maximum marks.

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Master the Top 10 patterns

Two Pointers, Sliding Window, BFS/DFS, Binary Search, DP, Greedy, Backtracking, Divide & Conquer — these cover 90% of questions. Practice 5 problems per pattern.

Related Subjects

Theory of Computation

CS 503

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