Computer Science 269
Introduction to Data Structures
Spring 2000

Revised February 12, 2000.

• Instructor: Dr. Larmore Office, TBE B378B. Telephone, 702-895-1096, larmore@cs.unlv.edu
• Office Hours: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm, Mondays and Wednesdays.
• Graduate Assistant: Changjiang Sun
• Room and Time: TBE B172, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9:30 AM to 10:20 AM.
• Days of Instruction: January 19, 2000 -- May 5, 2000.
• Holidays: February 21, March 13, March 15.
• Final Examination: Wednesday, May 10, 8:00, TBE B172
• The Textbook has 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 Fall semester of 1999. 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).
• CSC 269 is a prerequisite for many CSC courses.
• There will be programming assignments, quizzes, midterms, and a final examination.
• 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. If you do not already have an Engineering computer account, one will be assigned to you.
  Electronic Submission of Programming Assignments.
  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. 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
• Forum. Selected messages of general interest from students and the instructor.
  All postings by students are anonymous unless the student explicitly requests that his name be posted.