Selected Papers on the Analysis of Algorithms (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Donald Knuth's influence in computer science ranges from the invention of methods for translating and defining programming languages to the creation of the TeX and METAFONT systems for desktop publishing. His award-winning textbooks have become classics; his scientific papers are widely referenced and stand as milestones of development over a wide range of topics. The present volume, which is the fourth in a series of his collected works, is devoted to an important subfield of Computer Science that Knuth founded in the 1960s and still considers his main life's work. This field, to which he gave the name Analysis of Algorithms, deals with quantitative studies of computer techniques, leading to methods for understanding and predicting the efficiency of computer programs. More than 30 of the papers that helped to shape this field are reprinted and updated in the present collection, together with historical material that has not previously been published.

Book Description

This volume is devoted to an important subfield of Computer Science that Knuth founded in the 1960s and still considers his main life's work. Analysis of Algorithms deals with quantitative studies of computer techniques, leading to methods for understanding and predicting the efficiency of computer programs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 540 pages
• Publisher: Center for the Study of Language and Inf (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575862123
• ISBN-13: 978-1575862125
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #477,309 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as Approachable as Knuth's Other Writings, September 5, 2000

By	"microtherion" (Sim City, CA (Somewhere in the Bay Area)) - See all my reviews

To a reader interested in the analysis of algorithms, this book doubtlessly contains a number of very thorough analyses, with some interesting correspondence about the origin of complexity O()-notation and the term "NP-hard" thrown in.

As a reader more interested in Knuth's work in general, I must admit that, despite having advanced degrees in CS and a quite decent math education, I found myself unable to follow the heavy mathematics employed, and ultimately, the problems analyzed were not interesting enough to me to make me spend the effort to follow it. One of the chapters was titled "A Trivial Algorithm Whose Analysis Isn't", and this probably sums up why I'm not entirely enthusiastic about this book and about the field of algorithm analysis in general.

Knuth wouldn't be Knuth if he didn't throw some lighter material in as well, and chapter 2, "The Dangers of Computer Science Theory", was quite amusing.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Knuth++, June 16, 2000

By	comoc (Atlantic Highlands, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

Professor Knuth collects a charming and valuable set of papers into one terrific place. Don't miss his satirical "anti- Science" article "The Dangers of Computer Science", Chapter two, first presented in 1971.

3 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reference manual of it Analyzes of Algorithms, June 16, 2000

By	"junglebambam" (Manaus-Brazil) - See all my reviews

Donald Knuth is recognized as guru of the science of the computation. This publication comes to already complement its collection consecrated. The Analysis of Algorithms is one of the most important areas of the science of the computation. Excellent release.