[share_ebook] Algorithms and Data Structures: The Science of Computing

Description

• Author: Algorithms and Data Structures: The Science of Computing
• Publisher: Charles River Media
• Publish Date: 2004
• ISBN: 1584502509
• Pages: 640

WHY THE SCIENCE OF COMPUTING?
We believe that an introduction to computer science should be an in-depth study of the basic foundations of the field. The appropriate foundations lie not in what computer science studies, but in how it studies.

Three Methods of Inquiry
The Science of Computing is based on three methods of inquiry central to computer science (essentially, the three "paradigms" of computer science described by Denning et al. in "Computing as a Discipline," Communications of the ACM, January 1989). In particular, the book's mission is to teach:

Design-the creation of algorithms, programs, architectures, etc.

The Science of Computing emphasizes:

Abstraction as a way of treating complex operations as "primitives," so that one can write algorithms in terms appropriate to the problem they solve.

Recursion as a tool for controlling algorithms and defining problems.

Theory-the mathematical modeling and analysis of algorithms, programs, problems, etc.

The Science of Computing emphasizes:

The use of mathematics to predict the execution time of algorithms.

The use of mathematics to verify the correctness of algorithms.

Empirical Analysis-the use of the scientific method to study algorithms, programs, etc.

The Science of Computing emphasizes:

The rigorous notion of "experiment" used in the sciences

Techniques for collecting and analyzing data on the execution time of programs or parts of programs.

Advances in computer science depend on all three of these methods of inquiry; therefore, a well-educated computer scientist must become familiar with each—starting early in his education.