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Algorithmic Puzzles 1st Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 97 ratings

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While many think of algorithms as specific to computer science, at its core algorithmic thinking is defined by the use of analytical logic to solve problems. This logic extends far beyond the realm of computer science and into the wide and entertaining world of puzzles. In Algorithmic Puzzles, Anany and Maria Levitin use many classic brainteasers as well as newer examples from job interviews with major corporations to show readers how to apply analytical thinking to solve puzzles requiring well-defined procedures.
The book's unique collection of puzzles is supplemented with carefully developed tutorials on algorithm design strategies and analysis techniques intended to walk the reader step-by-step through the various approaches to algorithmic problem solving. Mastery of these strategies--exhaustive search, backtracking, and divide-and-conquer, among others--will aid the reader in solving not only the puzzles contained in this book, but also others encountered in interviews, puzzle collections, and throughout everyday life. Each of the 150 puzzles contains hints and solutions, along with commentary on the puzzle's origins and solution methods.
The only book of its kind,
Algorithmic Puzzles houses puzzles for all skill levels. Readers with only middle school mathematics will develop their algorithmic problem-solving skills through puzzles at the elementary level, while seasoned puzzle solvers will enjoy the challenge of thinking through more difficult puzzles.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Algorithmic Puzzles by Anany Levitin and Maria Levitin is an interesting and novel style of puzzle book. The emphasis lies in training the reader to think algorithmically and develop new puzzle-solving skills: the majority of puzzles are problems where we are asked to find the shortest distance or the fewest moves to get from A to B, or construct a proof that a puzzle has no solution. the book provides plenty of puzzles to keep even the most avid problem-solvers busy for a long time, all with varying levels of difficulty and different styles/contexts. The solutions provided are comprehensive and explain themselves in a friendly, constructive manner, complete with illustrations. In addition to questions and answers, a section of brief hints is also provided to assist the reader in their puzzle-solving endeavours." -- Graham Wheeler, Significance

Book Description

This book will provide an enjoyable and accessible introduction to algorithmic puzzles that will develop the reader's algorithmic thinking.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 1st edition (October 14, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 257 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0199740445
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199740444
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.22 x 6.1 x 0.57 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 97 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
97 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the puzzles in the book fun and interesting to solve. They find the content interesting and useful for learning problem-solving techniques, especially algorithmic proof-based math problems. The puzzles are categorized according to difficulty level, with easy, medium, and hard levels. The book provides hints and solutions for each puzzle. It serves as an excellent introduction to problem-solving for high school and undergraduate computer science students.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

19 customers mention "Puzzle difficulty"19 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the puzzles in the book. They find them fun to solve and implement using programming. The puzzles are categorized according to difficulty, from easy to hard. While some readers feel the content is repetitive, others consider it exciting and educational. Overall, customers describe the book as great and worth the cost.

"...The puzzles are just plain fun to solve, and the skills you will acquire when learning to devise algorithms are certainly applicable in other fields...." Read more

"This is a very good book...." Read more

"Good read. Where it could have been better is by giving related problems and in-line references...." Read more

"...science major, many of the puzzles are also fun to implement and solve using programming, emphasizing the "algorithmic" component in the..." Read more

11 customers mention "Learning material"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good introduction to problem solving for high school and undergraduate computer science students. They appreciate the hints and solutions provided in separate sections. The book provides advice and information on how to devise systems to solve common problems. It is a useful resource for math teachers to use in the classroom.

"...There's also great advice and information about how to devise systems to solve common problems using algorithms, so even if the challenges you're..." Read more

"...Good thing is that it has hints and solutions which are given in separate sections so that if you cannot solve it using hints, you can look at the..." Read more

"...The puzzles are not only ubiquitous and exciting... they're educational and provide many "Aha!" moments...." Read more

"...itself has 3 parts - the puzzle, the hint(s), and the solution explanation with references and a short history...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2016
    This book is a great resource for software development interviews or if you just want to blow off some steam and solve some fun puzzles. In many software interviews you will be asked to devise an algorithm to solve a problem or execute an objective. This book is by no means an exhaustive list of algorithmic puzzles that you'll encounter in interviews, but it does have several classic puzzles, as well as a number of puzzles I've never seen before. The puzzles themselves are very fun to solve and they'll get your brain thinking algorithmically. There's also great advice and information about how to devise systems to solve common problems using algorithms, so even if the challenges you're given in an interview aren't in this book you'll be studied up on how to devise your own systems for solving problems.

    One notable omission is the Tower of Hanoi puzzle, that is a classic and I suggest you look it up if you enjoy this type of thing. Overall I think this book is great for software developers looking to get into mental shape for interviewing, but don't think that you have to be a computer science major to enjoy this book. The puzzles are just plain fun to solve, and the skills you will acquire when learning to devise algorithms are certainly applicable in other fields. I highly recommend this book to any developers looking for a mental workout before an interview or anyone that just likes fun, challenging puzzles.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2015
    This is a very good book. Among many techniques used in math and in puzzles, algorithmic type of proofs exist for problems where the problem state either directly involves an algorithm or the problem state can be used to derive an algorithm. Algorithms of this sort have certain properties like some quantity either strictly increases, or strictly decreases, or it remains constant etc. Observations of what happens to such quantities can lead to solution of such problems.

    Good thing is that it has hints and solutions which are given in separate sections so that if you cannot solve it using hints, you can look at the solutions later. Highly recommended for people interested in problem solving.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2012
    Good read. Where it could have been better is by giving related problems and in-line references. The strength of the book is in the diversity of problem, but bringing up real world examples of where this thing comes in play is a better approach ro 'educate common mathemtcian
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2013
    I bought this book on sight. It's possibly my favorite book of any and all books I own. The puzzles are not only ubiquitous and exciting... they're educational and provide many "Aha!" moments. I've been looking for a book like this for years, and I recommend it to those looking for fun and challenging puzzles of varying difficulty levels. Being a computer science major, many of the puzzles are also fun to implement and solve using programming, emphasizing the "algorithmic" component in the title.

    Buy this book!!
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2015
    This book is not an introductory book to algorithms or a general algorithmic book in the computer science paradigm. But it contains loads of puzzles which you can understand, solve using a pen and a paper and apply the same in your favorite programming language. The book is written in a very clear and crisp way. For someone who loves brain teasers this book is a must have in their collection. Also it would be of immense help for anyone preparing for interviews on algorithms.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2012
    This book contains an excellent collection of algorithmic puzzles. There are lots (150) of puzzles in three difficulty categories. The book itself has 3 parts - the puzzle, the hint(s), and the solution explanation with references and a short history. The conversion to Kindle format was done poorly. You would have thought they could puzzle out that the three parts of the book should be linked so the reader can move back and forth. This is especially problematic as neither of the three sections can stand alone. The Pounstone books, Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google?: Trick Questions, Zen-like Riddles, Insanely Difficult Puzzles, and Other Devious Interviewing Techniques You Need ... to Get a Job Anywhere in the New Economy and How Would You Move Mount Fuji?: Microsoft's Cult of the Puzzle - How the World's Smartest Companies Select the Most Creative Thinkers are referenced in the book and they got the connectivity correct. I would recommend the paper version of the book with 3 book marks. Fixing this frustration would raise my rating to 5 stars.

    The above Poundstone books do have a small overlap with this book, however they are sufficiently different that purchasing all three books is not a bad idea.
    70 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2018
    i love the "hints" section. just a nudge in the right direction or at least affirmation that you're on the right path to the solution. haven't gone through the entire book yet, but some of the easy problems are quite challenging and have elegant solutions.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2015
    Love this book.

    I agreed with some reviewers' comment about the Kindle formatting of this book. You are better off with a paper version.

    Fortunately I have no need of hints and solutions. I bought this book only to entertain my puzzle-loving daughter, in lieu of a bed time story. So I skipped the tutorial and went all the way to main section.

    She successfully fell into asleep after 6th puzzle, so far as good.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • hugh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on March 16, 2017
    I love it.
  • bobj
    5.0 out of 5 stars bought it for my daughter who hope to study computer ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 7, 2015
    bought it for my daughter who hope to study computer science - she found it very interesting and informative. Written in an engaging style, covering many topics. Worth the money.
  • David H.
    5.0 out of 5 stars For (algorithmic) Puzzle lovers
    Reviewed in Germany on July 7, 2013
    I bought this book to train my algorithmic thinking and because I developed an interest in solving puzzles.
    On the first pages you get an overview of the different techniques of how to solve puzzles of all kinds.

    The book is divided into easy, normal and hard puzzles.

    German review:
    Ich habe mir dieses Buch zugelegt, um ein wenig meine grauen Zellen zu trainieren und mich mit algorithmischen Rätseln auseinander zu setzen. Das Buch bietet auf den ersten Seiten eine Einführung in die unterschiedlichen Vorgehensweisen zum Finden eines Algorithmus und zum Lösen der im Buch enthaltenen Rätsel.

    Die Rätsel sind unterteilt in einfache, mittlere und schwere Puzzle.

    Da ich beruflich oft mit Problemen aller Art zu tun habe, greife ich des Öfteren in meiner Freizeit oder in der Pause auf dieses Buch zurück.
  • Moses Hung
    4.0 out of 5 stars Oxford interview
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2019
    Question related to one of those mentioned in this book came up in my interview at oxford.
  • Yonna
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2014
    Not as interesting as I wished it would be