ASCED: 020109 Algorithms
FIT2004 introduces students to problem solving concepts and techniques fundamental to the science of programming. In doing this it covers problem specification, algorithmic design, analysis and implementation. Detailed topics include analysis of best-, average- and worst-case time- and space-complexity; introduction to numerical algorithms; recursion; advanced data structures such as heaps and B-trees; hashing; sorting algorithms; search algorithms; and graph algorithms. Numerical computing and geometric computing may be introduced to complement these algorithms on discrete structures.
K1. Understand a formal specification.
K2. Ability to create a formal specification for an informal problem.
K3. Knowledge and understanding of algorithmic properties such as correctness, termination and complexity.
K4. Ability to, given a non-trivial algorithm, formally prove certain properties, such as correctness and termination.
K5. Ability, given a non-trivial algorithm, to determine its best- average- and worst-case, time- and space-complexity.
K6. Knowledge and understanding of reasonably complex data structures such as minimum spanning trees, and Directed and Undirected, Weighted and Unweighted Graphs.
K7. Ability to design and implement new non-trivial algorithms using complex data structures.
K8. Knowledge of and ability to use algorithmic paradigms such as divide and conquer, greedy, dynamic programming and so on.
K9. Ability to identify these paradigms in diverse algorithms.
K10. Knowledge and understanding of the issues involved in implementing a non-trivial algorithm efficiently.
Attitudes, Values and BeliefsA1. Carefully design and/or analyse the algorithms they are using in order to verify important properties such as correctness, termination, and complexity.
Practical SkillsP1. Identify the key features of a brief informal problem description and abstract the underlying formal problem.
P2. Create their own data structures.
P3. Create a new algorithm to solve a new problem.
P4. Make a formal argument about desirable properties of the solution.
P5. Adapt an existing algorithm and/or data-structure where that is possible and appropriate.
P6. Implement a non-trivial algorithm efficiently.
Relationships, Communication and TeamWorkR1. Conduct a 'formal argument' that an algorithm and/or data-structure has a given property, such as correctness, termination or complexity.
2 hours of lecture
1 hour of tutorial (fortnightly)
3 hours of laboratory (fortnightly)
4 hours reading
4 hours laboratory preparation
FIT1008 Computer Science or FIT1015 Computer Science or CSE1303 Computer Science AND 2 of MAT1841 Mathematics for Computer Science I, MAT1830 Mathematics for Computer Science II (or equivalent), MTH1020 Analysis of change, MTH1030 Techniques for modelling, MTH1112 Numbers, logic and graphs, MTH2010 Multivariable calculus. Note that students entering with CSE1303 ideally should have done some Java (such as FIT1002) although this is not a formal prerequisite.
Students beginning FIT2004 are assumed to:
The unit is a second year core unit in the Bachelor of Computer Science and the Bachelor of Software Engineering. It may be taken as an elective in other programs where you have satisfied the prerequisites and course rules permit.
You may not study this unit and CSC2040, CS2304, DGS2131, RDT2131 in your degree.
Monash is committed to ‘Excellence in education’ (Monash Directions 2025 - http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html) and strives for the highest possible quality in teaching and learning.
To monitor how successful we are in providing quality teaching and learning Monash regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through Unit Evaluation Surveys. The University’s Unit Evaluation policy (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/unit-evaluation-policy.html) requires that every unit offered is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys as they are an important avenue for students to “have their say”. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
Faculties have the option of administering the Unit Evaluation survey online through the my.monash portal or in class. Lecturers will inform students of the method being used for this unit towards the end of the semester.
Lectures will be used to present new concepts, compare different approaches, analyse their advantages and disadvantages, and propose some general questions. The aim is to give students a first look at the concepts and challenge them to think further. Tutorials and practicals will be used to link the theory with practice and deepen the students understanding and practical abilities.
On-campus students should register for tutorials/laboratories using Allocate+
Monash aims to provide a learning environment in which students receive a range of ongoing feedback throughout their studies. You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This may take the form of group feedback, individual feedback, peer feedback, self-comparison, verbal and written feedback, discussions (on line and in class) as well as more formal feedback related to assignment marks and grades. You are encouraged to draw on a variety of feedback to enhance your learning.
It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem that is affecting your study. Semesters are short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.
| Week | Topic | Key dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specification & Abstract Data Types | |
| 2 | Proofs & Induction I | |
| 3 | Proofs & Induction II | |
| 4 | Complexity Analysis I | Assignment 1 due March 23 |
| 5 | Complexity Analysis II | |
| 6 | Dynamic Programming | Assignment 2 due April 6 |
| Mid semester break | ||
| 7 | Dynamic & Balanced Trees | |
| 8 | Amortized Analysis | Assignment 3 due April 27 |
| 9 | Multi-way Trees | |
| 10 | Graphs | Assignment 4 due May 11 |
| 11 | Path Problems | |
| 12 | Flow Problems | Assignment 5 due May 25 |
| 13 | Revision | |
Michael Goodrich and Roberto Tamassia.
Data Structures and Algorithms in Java, 3rd ed
John Wiley.
Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, Clifford Stein. Introduction to Algorithms, 2nd Edition, EHT MIT Press & McGraw Hill
Duane Bailey. Java Structures: Data Structures in Java for the Principled Programmer. International Edition, May 1999, Mc Graw Hill
Study resources we will provide for your study are:
The FIT2004 web site on MUSO, where lecture slides, weekly tutorial requirements, assignment specifications, sample solutions and supplementary material will be posted.The Monash University Library site contains details about borrowing rights and catalogue searching. To learn more about the library and the various resources available, please go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au.
The Educational Library and Media Resources (LMR) is also a very resourceful place to visit at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/library/
All unit and lecture materials are available through MUSO (Monash University Studies Online). Blackboard is the primary application used to deliver your unit resources. Some units will be piloted in Moodle. If your unit is piloted in Moodle, you will see a link from your Blackboard unit to Moodle (http://moodle.monash.edu.au) and can bookmark this link to access directly. In Moodle, from the Faculty of Information Technology category, click on the link for your unit.
You can access MUSO and Blackboard via the portal: http://my.monash.edu.au
Click on the Study and enrolment tab, then Blackboard under the MUSO learning systems.
In order for your Blackboard unit(s) to function correctly, your computer needs to be correctly configured.
For example:
For more information, please visit: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/downloadables-student.html
You can contact the MUSO Support by phone : (+61 3) 9903 1268
For further contact information including operational hours, please visit: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/contact.html
Further information can be obtained from the MUSO support site: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/index.html
In a addition to a three hour closed book examination, the lab work in this unit is assessed(and is supposed to be prepared at home before each lab). To pass the unit you must:
Title : ADTs, Proofs & Induction
Description :
Weighting : 5 %
Criteria for assessment :
Due date : March 23
Title : Complexity
Description :
Weighting : 5 %
Criteria for assessment :
Due date : April 6
Title : Dynamic Programming
Description :
Weighting : 5 %
Criteria for assessment :
Due date : April 27
Title : Trees
Description :
Weighting : 5 %
Criteria for assessment :
Due date : May 11
Title : Graph Algorithms
Description :
Weighting : 5 %
Criteria for assessment :
Due date : May 25
Weighting : 70%
Length : 3 hours
Type ( open/closed book ) : Closed book
Assignments will be submitted by mixed electronic and paper submission.
On-campus Students Submit the assignment in the pracs, with the appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out and attached
Off Campus (OCL) students [OCL only] Mail your assignment to the Off-Campus Learning Centre with the cover sheet attached.
Singapore and Hong Kong Students [Gippsland only] Mail your assignment to the Distance Education Centre with the cover sheet attached. Do not email submissions.
The due date is the date by which the submission must be received/the date by which the the submission is to be posted.
The due dates for the submission of assignments are given in the previous section. Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.
Requests for any other extension must be made to the unit lecturer or head tutor at your campus at least two days before the due date. You will be asked to forward original medical certificates in cases of illness, and may be asked to provide other forms of documentation where necessary. A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.
You are, however, generally allowed to submit your work in your allocated laboratory during the week of the due date even if you laboratory is after that due date.Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.
Assessment for the unit as a whole is in accordance with the provisions of the Monash University Education Policy at http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/assessment/
We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with the University Plagiarism policy and procedure (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) which applies to students detected plagiarising.
In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work.
When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer.
Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.
Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.
Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.
The university requires faculties to keep a simple and confidential register to record counselling to students about plagiarism (e.g. warnings). The register is accessible to Associate Deans Teaching (or nominees) and, where requested, students concerned have access to their own details in the register. The register is to serve as a record of counselling about the nature of plagiarism, not as a record of allegations; and no provision of appeals in relation to the register is necessary or applicable.
The Faculty of Information Technology is committed to the use of non-discriminatory language in all forms of communication. Discriminatory language is that which refers in abusive terms to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or nationality, ethnic or language background, physical or mental ability, or political or religious views, or which stereotypes groups in an adverse manner. This is not meant to preclude or inhibit legitimate academic debate on any issue; however, the language used in such debate should be non-discriminatory and sensitive to these matters. It is important to avoid the use of discriminatory language in your communications and written work. The most common form of discriminatory language in academic work tends to be in the area of gender inclusiveness. You are, therefore, requested to check for this and to ensure your work and communications are non-discriminatory in all respects.
Students with disabilities that may disadvantage them in assessment should seek advice from one of the following before completing assessment tasks and examinations:
Deferred assessment (not to be confused with an extension for submission of an assignment) may be granted in cases of extenuating personal circumstances such as serious personal illness or bereavement. Information and forms for Special Consideration and deferred assessment applications are available at http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html. Contact the Faculty's Student Services staff at your campus for further information and advice.