EIT Digital

Approximation Algorithms

Taught in English

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Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

Mark de Berg

Instructor: Mark de Berg

4.7

(31 reviews)

Intermediate level
Some related experience required
14 hours to complete
3 weeks at 4 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

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4 quizzes

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There are 4 modules in this course

In the module the motivation for studying approximation algorithms will be given. We will discuss what optimization problems are, and what the difference between heuristics and approximation algorithms is. Finally, we will introduce the concept of approximation ratio, which plays a central role in the analysis of the quality of approximation algorithms.

What's included

1 video1 reading1 quiz

In this module we will study various approximation algorithms for the load balancing problem. This problems asks to distribute a given set of jobs, each with a certain processing time, over a number of machine. The goal is to do this such that all jobs are finished as soon as possible. We will analyze the quality of the computed solutions computed using the concept of rho-approximation, which we saw in the previous lecture. In this analysis we will see that lower bounds on the optimal solution play a crucial role in the analysis (or, for maximization problems: upper bounds).

What's included

3 videos1 reading1 quiz1 programming assignment

In this module we will introduce the technique of LP relaxation to design approximation algorithms, and explain how to analyze the approximation ratio of an algorithm based in LP relaxation. We will do this using the (weighted) Vertex Cover problem as an example. Before we explain the technique of LP relaxation, however, we first give a simple 2-approximation algorithm for the unweighted Vertex Cover problem.

What's included

6 videos2 readings1 quiz

In this module we will introduce the concept of Polynomial-Time Approximation Scheme (PTAS), which are algorithms that can get arbitrarily close to an optimal solution. We describe a general technique to design PTASs, and apply it to the famous Knapsack problem. Finally we will see how to analyze PTASs that are designed with the general technique.

What's included

6 videos2 readings1 quiz1 programming assignment

Instructor

Instructor ratings
4.8 (10 ratings)
Mark de Berg
EIT Digital
2 Courses12,415 learners

Offered by

EIT Digital

Recommended if you're interested in Algorithms

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4.7

31 reviews

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SM
4

Reviewed on Oct 10, 2020

JB
5

Reviewed on Jan 26, 2021

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