Learning Algorithms

Foreword

Algorithms are at the heart of computer science and essential to the modern information age. They power the search engines used to answer billions of daily Internet search requests and provide privacy when communicating over the Internet. Algorithms are increasingly visible to consumers in countless areas, from customized advertising to online price quotes, and the news media is full of discussions about what algorithms are and what they can do.

The large growth in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is powering a new wave of sustained growth and innovation in the global economy. But there simply aren’t enough computer scientists to discover and apply the algorithms needed for advances in medicine, engineering, and even government. We need to increase the number of people who know how to apply algorithms to the problems within their own fields and disciplines.

You don’t need a four-year degree in computer science to get started with algorithms. Unfortunately, most online material and textbooks on the topic are designed for undergraduate students, with an emphasis on mathematical proofs and computer science concepts. Algorithm textbooks can be intimidating because they are references for so many different algorithms, with countless variations and highly specialized cases. All too often, readers find it hard to complete the first chapter of these books. Using them can be a bit like trying to improve your English spelling by reading an entire dictionary: ...