Such algorithms are often quite efficient and provide useful bounds on the optimal solutions. The learning will be supported by instructor provided notes, readings from textbooks and assignments.

A computer program is simply an algorithm written for a computer. Algorithms are frequently displayed as flow charts, like Sheldon's friendship algorithm.

It covers basic algorithm design techniques such as divide and conquer, dynamic programming, and greedy algorithms. It concludes with a brief introduction to intractability (NP-completeness) .

Yes, it’s a computer programming a computer. Be thankful Skynet is 18 years late. When we first saw [Kory]’s work , he had programmed a computer to write and run its own programs in Brainfuck.