Computer Science 269
Introduction to Data Structures
Fall 2000

Revised September 21, 2000.

• Instructor: Dr. Larmore Office, TBE B378B. Telephone, 702-895-1096, larmore@cs.unlv.edu
• Office Hours: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Graduate Assistant: Doina Bein siona@cs.unlv.edu
  • Office, CEB 399J. Telephone, 702-895-1634.
  • Office Hours: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, Tuesdays and 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Wednesdays.
• Room and Time: TBE A107, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:15.
• Days of Instruction: August 29, 2000 -- December 7, 2000.
• Holiday: November 23.
• Final Examination: to be announced.
• The Textbook should have been ordered. Check with the bookstore. It is the same book as the other section of CSC 269, and the same book that was used for the last two semesters. However, it is not the same book as the one used for the Spring semester of 1999 or for prior years.
• Download C++ code from the textbook.
• Prerequisites: CSC 136 (Computer Science II) and MAT 181 (Elementary Calculus I). Anyone who has not taken all prerequisites and earned a grade of "C" or better in each must see me immediately. I will not hesitate to administratively drop a student who lacks the prerequisites, as unprepared students slow down the class.
• CSC 269 is a prerequisite for many CSC courses. If you are a CSC major, you realize that this is the "gateway" course to the upper division.
• There will be programming assignments, quizzes, midterms, and a final examination.
• All programming assignments must be submitted electronically.
  All programming assignments must be done in C++, using the College of Engineering computer system. You may "practice" using other computers, but the "official" version you turn in must be done on our system. Since there are many versions of C++, it is possible that what you do at home will not be compatible.
  All CSC 269 students must have a computer account on the College of Engineering system. If you do not already have an Engineering computer account, one will be assigned to you. This assignment is automatic if you are registered for this course, unless your registration was too late for the College system to have noticed you. To obtain a computer account, go to room A311 (the big lab on the third floor) and login to a workstation. Use the login name "account" and use the password "account" and follow directions. If you need help, see the lab monitor. If you cannot find the lab monitor, see the systems staff in TBE B346. Do not go the the department office or the Dean's office. If you do, you waste their time and your time, and all they will do is send you back upstairs.
  If you registered late (after Friday) you might not be able to get an account automatically. The staff will make sure you can get an account, however. Once again, do not go to the departmental or Dean's office.
• The subject matter of this course is not C++ programming per se. What you learn here will be valid throughout your programming lifetime, regardless of future languages and computers.
  If you do not know how to use data structures, you cannot be an excellent programmer, no matter how many years of practical experience you have. The experience of learning of data structures and how to use them is like the experience of a person who did not know he was visually impaired getting glasses for the first time.
• Here is a quiz. Think of the answer, then click.
  • What's good about bubblesort? Answer
  • When used in a program, a stack is always used to store Answer
  • True or false: "Computers are so fast and memory is so plentiful nowadays that consideration of time and space efficiency is less important than before." Answer
  • "Divide and Conquer" was used by Kublai Khan to take over China during the Thirteenth Century. Answer
• Homework assignments