Description:

The course brings theoretical background of the theory of algorithms with the focus at first on the time and space complexity of algorithms and problems, secondly on the correctness of algorithms. Further it is dealt with the theory of complexity; the classes P, NP, NP-complete, PSPACE and NPSPACE are treated and properties of them investigated. Probabilistic algorithms are studied and the classes RP and ZZP introduced.

Contents:

1. Analyzing algorithms and problems, classifying functions by their growth rates, time and space complexity.
2. Correctness of algorithms, variants and invariants.
3. Decision problems and optimization problems.
4. Turing machine and its variants.
5. Relation between Turing machine and RAM machine.
6. Classes P and NP.
7. Reduction and polynomial reduction of problems.
8. NP-complete problems, Cook's Theorem.
9. Classes PSPACE and NPSPACE..
10. Randomized algorithms with polynomial time complexity.
11. Classes RP and ZZP.
12. Undecidable problems.
13. Reserve.

Seminar contents:

1. Determining time and space complexity of well known algorithms.
2. Verifying correctness of algorithms using variants and invariants.
3. Turing machines.
4. Polynomial reductions of problems.
5. Examples of randomized algorithms.
6. Examples of undecidable problems.

Recommended literature:

[1] Kozen, D. C.: The design and Analysis of Algorithms, Springer-Vrelag, 1991
[2] Harel, D: Algorithmics: The Spirit of Computing, Addison-Wesleyt Inc., Reading MA 2002
[3] Talbot, J., Welsh, D.: Complexity and Cryptography, Cambridge University Press, 2006

Abbreviations used:

Semester:

• W ... winter semester (usually October - February)
• S ... spring semester (usually March - June)
• W,S ... both semesters

Mode of completion of the course:

• A ... Assessment (no grade is given to this course but credits are awarded. You will receive only P (Passed) of F (Failed) and number of credits)
• GA ... Graded Assessment (a grade is awarded for this course)
• EX ... Examination (a grade is awarded for this course)
• A, EX ... Examination (the award of Assessment is a precondition for taking the Examination in the given subject, a grade is awarded for this course)

Weekly load (hours per week):

• P ... lecture
• C ... seminar
• L ... laboratory
• R ... proseminar
• S ... seminar