Note: This unit is an archived version! See Overview tab for delivered versions.

COMP2007: Algorithms and Complexity (2017 - Semester 2)

Download UoS Outline

Unit: COMP2007: Algorithms and Complexity (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Intermediate
Faculty/School: School of Computer Science
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Gudmundsson, Joachim
Session options: Semester 2
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: INFO1105 OR INFO1905.
Brief Handbook Description: This unit provides an introduction to the design and analysis of algorithms. The main aims are: To learn how to develop algorithmic solutions to computational problem, and; To develop understanding of algorithm efficiency and the notion of computational hardness.
Assumed Knowledge: MATH1004.
Lecturer/s: Dr Gudmundsson, Joachim
Timetable: COMP2007 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 2.00 1 13
2 Tutorial 2.00 1 13
3 Independent Study 8.00 13

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
designing efficient solutions to given problems and scenarios, critical thinking, creativity, critically evaluate existin gunderstanding and evaluate limitations of own knowledge Design (Level 2)
Fundamental concepts that are relevant in many areas of science and engineering Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2)
Located required information efficiently and effectively Information Seeking (Level 2)
Collaboration in tutorials and exchange of ideas to solve algorithmic problems Communication (Level 2)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2)
1. Knowledge of fundamental algorithms for several problems, especially graph problems, testing graph properties and solving optimization problems on graphs. Knowledge of fundamental general algorithmic design techniques, such as greedy, dynamic programming and divide-and-conquer
2. Understanding of the fundamental concepts of computational hardness.
3. Understanding of NP-hardness and the ways of dealing with hardness. Knowledge of randomized algorithms and approximation algorithms.
4. Knowledge of basic Complexity classes and understanding of reductions between problems
Design (Level 2)
5. Ability to read, understand, analyze and modify a given algorithm. Ability to design algorithmic solutions for given problems
6. Ability to analyze the complexity of a given algorithm
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2)
7. Basic experience of implementing algorithms
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Assignment No 30.00 Multiple Weeks 5, 6, 7,
2 Quiz Yes 20.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 7,
3 Final Exam No 50.00 Exam Period 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,
Assessment Description: Assignment: Five assignment, that may include implementations of algorithms.

Quiz: Short weekly quizzes on e-learning.

Final Exam: Final Examination
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Minimum Pass Requirement It is a policy of the School of Computer Science that in order to pass this unit, a student must achieve at least 40% in the written examination. For subjects without a final exam, the 40% minimum requirement applies to the corresponding major assessment component specified by the lecturer. A student must also achieve an overall final mark of 50 or more. Any student not meeting these requirements may be given a maximum final mark of no more than 45 regardless of their average.
Policies & Procedures: IMPORTANT: School policy relating to Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

In assessing a piece of submitted work, the School of IT may reproduce it entirely, may provide a copy to another member of faculty, and/or to an external plagiarism checking service or in-house computer program and may also maintain a copy of the assignment for future checking purposes and/or allow an external service to do so.

Other policies

See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Prescribed Text/s: Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
  • Algorithm Design
Online Course Content: USyd e-Learning (WebCT)

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Unit introduction, algorithms and complexity, motivation and course outline. Overview of graphs, motivating example problems text/plain
Week 2 Greedy algorithms, scheduling and shortest paths text/plain
Week 3 More on greedy algorithms text/plain
Week 4 Divide and conquer, recurrences, sorting text/plain
Week 5 Dynamic programming, scheduling, subset sums, sequence alignment text/plain
Week 6 Network flows, maxflow mincut theorems, matching text/plain
Week 7 More on flows, intro to complexity theory
Week 8 introduction to complexity theory, Polynomial time and NP, reductions text/plain
Week 9 Intractability, approximation algorithms text/plain
Week 10 approximation algorithms, vertex cover text/plain
Week 11 computational intractability text/plain
Week 12 optimization problems. local search text/plain
Week 13 review
Exam Period Assessment Due: Final Exam

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Bachelor of Computer Science and Technology 2015, 2016
Bachelor of Computer Science and Technology (Computer Science) 2014 and earlier 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Bachelor of Computer Science and Technology (Information Systems) 2014 and earlier 2010, 2013, 2014, 2011, 2012
Bachelor of Computer Science & Tech. Mid-Year 2016, 2017
Biomedical - Information Technology Major 2015
Software Mid-Year 2016, 2017
Software 2015, 2016
Software / Arts 2015, 2016
Software / Commerce 2015, 2016
Software / Music Studies 2016
Software / Project Management 2015, 2016
Software / Science 2015, 2016
Software / Law 2015, 2016
Software Engineering / Arts 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Software Engineering / Commerce 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Software Engineering / Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Software Engineering / Project Management 2012, 2013, 2014
Software Engineering / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Software Engineering / Law 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Bachelor of Information Technology 2015, 2016
Bachelor of Information Technology/Bachelor of Arts 2015, 2016
Bachelor of Information Technology/Bachelor of Commerce 2015, 2016
Bachelor of Information Technology/Bachelor of Medical Science 2015, 2016
Bachelor of Information Technology/Bachelor of Science 2015, 2016
Bachelor of Information Technology/Bachelor of Laws 2015, 2016
Aeronautical Engineering / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Aeronautical Engineering (Space) / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Biomedical Engineering / Science 2013, 2014
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Civil Engineering / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Electrical Engineering (Bioelectronics) / Science 2011, 2012
Electrical Engineering / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Electrical Engineering (Computer) / Science 2014
Electrical Engineering (Power) / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Electrical Engineering (Telecommunications) / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Aeronautical / Science 2015, 2016, 2017
Aeronautical (Space) / Science 2015
Biomedical Mid-Year 2016
Biomedical Engineering 2016
Biomedical /Science 2015, 2016, 2017
Chemical & Biomolecular / Science 2015
Civil / Science 2015
Electrical / Science 2015
Mechanical / Science 2015, 2016, 2017
Mechanical (Space) / Science 2015
Mechatronic / Science 2015, 2016, 2017
Mechatronic (Space) / Science 2015
Mechanical Engineering (Biomedical) / Science 2011, 2012
Mechanical Engineering / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Mechanical Engineering (Space) / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Mechatronic Engineering / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Mechatronic Engineering (Space) / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Project Engineering and Management (Civil) / Science 2011
Flexible First Year (Stream A) / Science 2012, 2013, 2014
Bachelor of Computer Science and Technology (Advanced) 2016
Bachelor of Project Management (Built Environment) 2016, 2017
Bachelor of Project Management (Built Environment) Mid-Year 2016, 2017
Bachelor of Project Management (Civil Engineering Science) 2016, 2017
Bachelor of Project Management (Civil Engineering Science) Mid-Year 2016, 2017
Bachelor of Project Management (Software) Mid-Year 2016, 2017
Bachelor of Project Management (Software) 2016, 2017

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2) Yes 44%
Design (Level 2) Yes 40%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2) No 16%
Information Seeking (Level 2) Yes 0%
Communication (Level 2) Yes 0%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.