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Back to Approximation Algorithms Part I

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Approximation Algorithms Part I by École normale supérieure

4.7
stars
542 ratings

About the Course

Approximation algorithms, Part I How efficiently can you pack objects into a minimum number of boxes? How well can you cluster nodes so as to cheaply separate a network into components around a few centers? These are examples of NP-hard combinatorial optimization problems. It is most likely impossible to solve such problems efficiently, so our aim is to give an approximate solution that can be computed in polynomial time and that at the same time has provable guarantees on its cost relative to the optimum. This course assumes knowledge of a standard undergraduate Algorithms course, and particularly emphasizes algorithms that can be designed using linear programming, a favorite and amazingly successful technique in this area. By taking this course, you will be exposed to a range of problems at the foundations of theoretical computer science, and to powerful design and analysis techniques. Upon completion, you will be able to recognize, when faced with a new combinatorial optimization problem, whether it is close to one of a few known basic problems, and will be able to design linear programming relaxations and use randomized rounding to attempt to solve your own problem. The course content and in particular the homework is of a theoretical nature without any programming assignments. This is the first of a two-part course on Approximation Algorithms....

Top reviews

DA

Jan 26, 2016

The course provides a high-level introduction to approximation algorithm. There is no programming assignments but it provides nice introduction to approximation algorithm.

MH

May 28, 2020

A great course if you want to learn about approximation algorithms from the point of view of linear programming relaxation!

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76 - 100 of 106 Reviews for Approximation Algorithms Part I

By Iragala A

Oct 8, 2021

cool

By Navya K

Sep 30, 2021

good

By KIRLA J U N

Sep 30, 2021

GOOD

By Nanda K K

Sep 30, 2021

good

By Potu R

Nov 27, 2021

yea

By Polamarasetty V V n

Nov 5, 2021

NO

By Sreeja P

Oct 30, 2021

NA

By Thatavarthi S H

Oct 27, 2021

nn

By Shayan m

Oct 20, 2021

hh

By Boggarapu Y

Oct 21, 2021

5

By Claus D M P

Aug 3, 2016

Lectures and content were great. The theme of the course is to provide insight into the approaches used to investigate approximation algorithms for NP hard problems and the theoretical techniques used to assess the effectiveness of the approximation algorithm against the best answer. The production quality of the lecture videos and slides was high.

The content of the quizzes and assignments was mostly appropriate and well organized. However, the authors appeared to struggle with the platform. At times there were comments such as, you need to enter something in the box but it was not actually being used. Answers to the assignments required using substantial mathematical notation, but LaTex was not enabled in the discussion or text entry boxes (no longer available in the Coursera platform??) so the work around was to upload answers to a bunch of questions as a single PDF document. Flow of the individual modules (lectures, slides, quizzes) was inconsistent, varying from week to week.

By victor g

Jul 21, 2017

A very synthetic course on the topic.Explanations are of great quality and elegant!

Every algorithms given are analysed on a mathematical point of view.

ENS should enable people to get certificate for this course ! I would prefer

give money to this top institution in theorical science than to the huge private universities

To improve : the commitment of the staff to the forum

By Abhijit O

Oct 21, 2016

Content of the course is great. However , at time assignments are very difficult to understand. There are probably very few students who take this course at any time , so you dont get much help from forums. TA's and Professor as well have not responded to any of our questions. I dont expect any course to be cakewalk but at least some help need to be provided.

By Mingda Q

Feb 21, 2016

Lectures are well-organized. Some assignments (e.g., Assignment 3, which involves merely understanding an algorithm, rather than proving correctness and approx. ratio) are extraordinarily stupid and somewhat tangential.

By Vivek A

Jan 19, 2016

This course is quite advanced and the assignments require prerequisite skills to prove time complexity etc. If you are upto it, then for sure take this course. The instructor is quite thorough.

By Peter U

Jun 1, 2017

The content of the course is good and the lectures even better. However the quizzes and homeworks could use an update or refresh. The forums connected to the course is a ghosttown.

By Philippe S

Aug 7, 2016

Very interesting, explanations are clear and easy to understand

By maturi p

Sep 30, 2021

it is a very good course

By sai v k

Oct 25, 2021

Good for learning

By Janardhan G

Oct 29, 2021

good to learn.

By KATARU S S

Nov 5, 2022

GOOD COURSE

By ALAPATI N V S

Sep 30, 2021

very good

By Kilari H C

Feb 23, 2022

good

By Katuri B

Oct 28, 2021

good

By SRAVYA C V

Oct 9, 2021

Good