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Back to Divide and Conquer, Sorting and Searching, and Randomized Algorithms

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Divide and Conquer, Sorting and Searching, and Randomized Algorithms by Stanford University

4.8
stars
5,187 ratings

About the Course

The primary topics in this part of the specialization are: asymptotic ("Big-oh") notation, sorting and searching, divide and conquer (master method, integer and matrix multiplication, closest pair), and randomized algorithms (QuickSort, contraction algorithm for min cuts)....

Top reviews

KS

Sep 13, 2018

Well researched. Topics covered well, with walkthrough for exam.le cases for each new introduced algorithm. Great experience, learned a lot of important algorithms and algorithmic thinking practices.

DT

May 26, 2020

Thank you for teaching me this course. I learned a lot of new things, including Divide-and-Conquer, MergeSort, QuickSort, and Randomization Algorithms, along with proof for their asymptotic runtime

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26 - 50 of 988 Reviews for Divide and Conquer, Sorting and Searching, and Randomized Algorithms

By Alireza K

•

Feb 3, 2021

Note-taking was not possible.

The speaker speaks so fast.

The instructor does not explain simply, rather closer to being unnecessarily complicated.

By Sergey T

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May 3, 2020

That was a great course, thank you Mr. Roughgarden!

Before I took this course I had huge (HUGE) problems in understanding algorithms and some math concepts like big O notation, conditional probability, the linearity of expectations, etc. Now I got rid of some of these problems, and I stopped to be shy about solving algorithmic problems and answering tech interview questions related to algorithms. I'm going to keep learning and take all other courses in this specialization.

I must say this course was somewhat tricky for me, but I managed to do everything at 100%. The programming experience from assignments and reviewing teammates' code was also great. I also love those optional problem sets. The thing I liked the most was programming assignments, which I turned into a project worth taking tech interviews in my portfolio.

The only thing I didn't like is the final exam. It just doesn't provide any useful feedback to you. After you submit your result you can only see if something is correct or wrong, and if you're wrong, you won't' get any info why. It's just like the typical test which is great for evaluating your results but completely useless for your learning.

By Atul S A

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Aug 22, 2018

Dear Prof Tim Roughgarden

I have been watching your lecture videos while taking my meals. When I do this for other courses, either I have to take out a piece of paper and scribble things to understand or they turn out to be so boring (for me) that I have to change. This course of yours was pitched at the perfect level. This is not to say the material was easy. There were so many wonderful ideas that you almost playfully conveyed with essentially zero effort required on the part of the learner. It often happens that people that understand things very well are also unable to express them to lesser mortals. You are an exception.

I must admit that I simply audited the course so I can't make any comments about the exercises.

I look forward to learning more from you. Thank you for taking the time for putting all this together. Hope you're enjoying/enjoyed your sabbatical.

—

Atul

By Dung N T

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May 27, 2020

Thank you for teaching me this course. I learned a lot of new things, including Divide-and-Conquer, MergeSort, QuickSort, and Randomization Algorithms, along with proof for their asymptotic runtime

By Varad P

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Apr 27, 2020

Professor Tim is an amazing instructor, and he explained all those elegant proofs in a brief and concise manner. I really enjoyed this course and certainly felt my IQ level going above roof ! :P

By Kamil K

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Oct 5, 2017

Not practical enough, too academical approach for me.

By Wai C C

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Aug 22, 2020

Too few examples but too many verbal explanations.

By Ivan Y J

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Jul 26, 2020

As an auditing student it is extremely difficult to access course content ahead of time. I have finished my week 1 contents but cannot go forward to week 2.

By Ashutosh P

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Mar 19, 2021

Poor teaching methodology of instructor!!!

By Tony A Z

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Jan 29, 2021

not engaging enough!

By Deleted A

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Jun 1, 2020

time waste

By Coco Z

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Apr 7, 2021

Overall a good course and the instructor explains the concepts clearly. The only issue is that the hand writing of the instructor is hard to read, which makes it hard to follow while watching the video. Good news is that the course provides typed slides with all formulas. I would recommend open the typed slides while watching the video.

By Peter P

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Jul 6, 2020

The teacher is excellent and explained the course very well. I like that the material is concise and straight to the point and offer high level of concepts that is easy to understand. I appreciate that the professor doesn't spoon feed every little detail information so that the student would get a chance to think and fill in the gaps!

By Jonathan M

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Apr 24, 2020

This is a very informative course that provides a rigorous introduction to algorithms. Probably one of the better MOOCs I have taken so far in terms of what I learned. The videos do a great job of not just presenting the concepts but also explaining the mathematical reason behind the approaches presented.

By HAONAN L

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Apr 18, 2020

it is really practical and give you the concept of what could make your program more efficient. Theorems have been explained in a very fundamental way that is easy to understand even for foreign students. Thanks!

By Ivan

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Sep 1, 2017

Amazing course. I learned a lot about algorithms, the implementation of algorithms, time complexity. I also learned a lot about being systematic and purposeful about including any line of code.

By Nikolaos E

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Nov 7, 2016

Personally, I would recommend this course to anyone who really wants to learn how things work in that sort of algorithms. I found the assignments a little difficult, but also extremely helpful.

By Ferdinando I

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Apr 24, 2020

I think the course is really good. Enough mathematics to make things more rigorous, but not too much that it is hard to follow (for a MOOC). The questions make you think about the material.

By Akshath M

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Apr 23, 2020

Made notes, watched optional videos, re-watched the content till I understood and aced the tests! :)

It's fairly challenging but also do-able if you put your mind to it

By Jiajie Q

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Apr 25, 2020

Should really work hard to pass... But anyway, I appreciate the changes that the teacher brings to me. Really really a nice lesson the join!

By Deeksha S

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Apr 28, 2020

Little bit tough but if you learn this honestly then you will gain much knowledge.

By Shikhir G

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Apr 22, 2020

Brilliant course with proper explanations. Totally worth your time.

By Sankalp D

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May 1, 2020

very truthful and everything thoroughly explained

By Jakub K

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Apr 29, 2020

Very hard. Unique knowledge and skills.

By Vaibhav K

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Apr 25, 2020

bets for analyzing the algorithm