Algorithms Unplugged

From the reviews: "This work uses a concise presentation style with an efficient problem-solution approach for selected algorithms to solve most common situations in the modern world. The book outlines algorithms that can be applied in areas such as cryptography, evolutionary distance calculations in bioinformatics, and Internet search engines. ... this book will be most useful as a resource for computer science students. ... it may also be of interest to mathematics students with the appropriate background. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (V. Mathura, Choice, Vol. 48 (11), August, 2011) "Presents 41 articles designed to communicate the fascination of algorithms to high-school students and interested adults. Indeed, most of us will easily find something fascinating here. ... a wonderful resource for students as each chapter can be the basis for further study and research projects. ... Every library used by computer science or mathematics students should include Algorithms Unplugged. It admirably achieves its purpose of engaging readers and making a book on algorithms fun to read. Many readers will be motivated to explore further." (Art Gittleman, The Mathematical Association of America, April, 2011)

• Part I – Searching and Sorting.- Overview.- 1 Binary Search.- 2 Insertion Sort.- 3 Fast Sorting Algorithms.- 4 Parallel Sorting – The Need for Speed.- 5 Topological Sorting – How Should I Begin to Complete My To Do List?.- 6 Searching Texts – But Fast! The Boyer—Moore—Horspool Algorithm.- 7 Depth-First Search (Ariadne & Co.).- 8 Pledge's Algorithm – How to Escape from a Dark Maze.- 9 Cycles in Graphs.- 10 PageRank – What Is Really Relevant in the World-Wide Web?.- Part II – Arithmetic and Encryption.- Overview.- 11 Multiplication of Long Integers – Faster than Long Multiplication.- 12 The Euclidean Algorithm.- 13 The Sieve of Eratosthenes – How Fast Can We Compute a Prime Number Table?.- 14 One-Way Functions – Mind the Trap – Escape Only for the Initiated.- 15 The One-Time Pad Algorithm – The Simplest and Most Secure Way to Keep Secrets.- 16 Public-Key Cryptography.- 17 How to Share a Secret.- 18 Playing Poker by Email.- 19 Fingerprinting.- 20 Hashing.- 21 Codes – Protecting Data Against Errors and Loss.- Part III – Planning, Coordination and Simulation.- Overview.- 22 Broadcasting – How Can I Quickly Disseminate Information?.- 23 Coverting Numbers into English Words.- 24 Majority – Who Gets Elected Class Rep?.- 25 Random Numbers – How Can We Create Randomness in Computers?.- 26 Winning Strategies for a Matchstick Game.- 27 Scheduling of Tournaments or Sports Leagues.- 28 Eulerian Circuits.- 29 High-Speed Circles.- 30 Gauß—Seidel Iterative Method for the Computation of Physical Problems.- 31 Dynamic Programming – Evolutionary Distance.- Part IV – Optimisation.- Overview.- 32 Shortest Paths.- 33 Minimum Spanning Trees – Sometimes Greed Pays Off.- 34 Maximum Flows – Towards the Stadium During Rush Hour.- 35 Marriage Broker.- 36 The Smallest Enclosing Circle – A Contribution to Democracy from Switzerland?.- 37 Online Algorithms – What Is It Worth to Know the Future?.- 38 Bin Packing – How Do I Get My Stuff into the Boxes.- 39 The Knapsack Problem.- 40 The Travelling Salesman Problem.- 41 Simulated Annealing.