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Theoretical Computer Science Competitive Programming Computer Programming Related Questions

What is the mathematical background For a software engineer who doesn't find
necessary for competitive programming? competitive programming interesting but would
like to join one of the big tech companies (for
example...

9 Answers What are some must-know topics in discrete

math and probability for competitive
Aditya Varma, Undergraduate in computer science. programming?
Written 27 May 2015
Is it possible to do well in competitive
Hope you find this useful! programming if you don't have a strong
1. Math (Probability, Counting, Game Theory, Group Theory, mathematical background?
Generating functions, Permutation Cycles, Linear Algebra)
What is the mathematical background
a. Probability. necessary to understand a typical book on
algorithms?
Syllabus
Basic probability and Conditional probability Is it possible to be a good programmer without
competitive programming? How is it possible?
1. Suggested problems
Is it possible to develop some math skills (or
1. SPOJ.com - Problem CT16E rather mathematical approach/thinking) by
solving programming problems and practicing
2. SPOJ.com - Problem CHICAGO for compe...

Random variables, probability generating functions Is it ever too late for someone to learn how to
program?
Mathematical expectation + Linearity of expectation
What's the most fun kind of math?
a. Suggested problems
How do I get strong mathematical background?
i. SPOJ.com - Problem FAVDICE

ii. Problem Statement Is it necessary to have powerful mathematics

for learning to programming?
1. Special discrete and continuous probability distributions

a. Bernoulli, Binomial, Poisson, normal distribution

b. Suggested Problem

i. SSU Online Contester :: 498. Coins

2. Suggested Readings

a. Cormen appendix C (very basic)

b. Topcoder probabilty tutorial http://www.topcoder.com/tc?

module=Static&d1=tutorials&d2=probabilities

c. Random variable

d. Expected value

e. William Feller, An introduction to probability theory and its applications

1. Counting

Syllabus
Basic principles - Pigeon hole principle, addition, multiplication rules

1. Suggested problems

a. http://acm.timus.ru/problem.aspx...

b. Problem Statement

1. Suggested readings

a. Combinatorial principles

b. Page on topcoder.com

c. Page on maa.org

Inclusion-exclusion

1. Suggested readings

a. Inclusionexclusion principle

2. Suggested problems

a. Problem Statement

b. Problem Statement
Special numbers
1. Suggested reading - Stirling, eurlerian, harmonic, bernoulli, fibonnacci
numbers

a. Stirling number

b. Eulerian number

c. Harmonic series (mathematics)

d. Bernoulli number

e. Fibonacci number

f. Concrete mathematics by Knuth

2. Suggested problems

a. Problem Statement

b. Problem Statement

c. Problem Statement

d. Problem Statement

1. Advanced counting techniques - Polya counting, burnsides lemma

a. Suggested reading

i. Burnside's lemma

ii. Algorithms Weekly by Petr Mitrichev

b. Suggested Problems

i. Problem Statement

ii. SPOJ.com - Problem TRANSP

c. Game theory
Syllabus
Basic principles and Nim game

1. Sprague grundy theorem, grundy numbers

2. Suggested readings

a. SpragueGrundy theorem

b. Algorithm Games - topcoder

c. Feature Column from the AMS

d. Page on codechef.com

3. Suggested problems

a. Problem Statement

b. Problem Statement

Hackenbush
1. Suggested readings

a. Hackenbush

b. Feature Column from the AMS

2. Suggested problems

a. Computing + Mathematical Sciences

b. SPOJ.com - Problem PT07A

d. Linear Algebra
Syllabus
Matrix Operations

1. Addition and subtraction of matrices

a. Suggested Reading

i. Cormen 28.1

2. Multiplication ( Strassen's algorithm ), logarithmic exponentiation

a. Suggested reading

i. Cormen 28.2

ii. Linear Algebra by Kenneth Hoffman Section 1.6

b. Problems
 i. Contest of Newbies 2006

3. Matrix transformations [ Transpose, Rotation of Matrix, Representing Linear

transformations using matrix ]

a. Suggested Reading

i. Linear Algebra By Kenneth Hoffman Section 3.1,3.2,3.4,3.7

b. Problems

i. Problem Statement

ii. JPIX on Spoj

4. Determinant , Rank and Inverse of Matrix [ Gaussean Elimination , Gauss

Jordan Elimination]

a. Suggested Reading

i. 28.4 Cormen

ii. Linear Algebra by Kenneth Chapter 1

b. Problems

i. Problem Statement

ii. Problem Statement

iii. Problem Statement

iv. HIGH on Spoj

5. Solving system of linear equations

a. Suggested Reading

i. 28.3 Cormen

ii. Linear Algebra by Kenneth Chapter 1

b. Problems -

i. Problem Statement

6. Using matrix exponentiation to solve recurrences

a. Suggested Reading

i. TopCoder Feature Articles

b. Problems

i. REC, RABBIT1 , PLHOP on spoj

ii. Problem Statement , Problem Statement , Problem Statement

7. Eigen values and Eigen vectors

a. Problems

i. Problem Statement

Polynomials
1. Roots of a polynomial [ Prime factorization of a polynomial, Integer roots of a
polynomial, All real roots of a polynomial ]

a. Problems

i. Problem Statement

ii. POLYEQ , ROOTCIPH on Spoj

2. Lagrange Interpolation

a. Problems

i. Problem Statement

ii. Problem Statement

e. Permutation cycles
Suggested Reading

1. Art of Computer Programming by Knuth Vol. 3

Problems
1. ShuffleMethod, Permutation and WordGame on topcoder.

f. Group Theory
Bernside Lemma, Polias theorem
1. Suggested Reading

a. Hernstein's topics in algebra

b. Algorithms Weekly by Petr Mitrichev

2. Problems

a. TRANSP on spoj

b. Problem Statement

Generating functions
Suggested Reading

1. Herbert Wilf's generating functionology

2. Robert Sedgewick and Flajoulet's Combinatorial analysis

Source: Programming Camp Syllabus

4.6k Views View Upvotes

Related Questions More Answers Below

For a software engineer who doesn't find competitive programming interesting

but would like to join one of the big tech companies (for example...

What are some must-know topics in discrete math and probability for
competitive programming?

Is it possible to do well in competitive programming if you don't have a strong

mathematical background?

What is the mathematical background necessary to understand a typical book

on algorithms?

Is it possible to be a good programmer without competitive programming? How

is it possible?

Istasis Mishra, Have learnt Java, C, C++ and Python ;)

Written 26 Oct 2016
If you want to be a very serious competitive programmer, I will go a bit deeper into
the details of what all math you might ever need for competitive programming.

Arithmetic and Geometry:-

Integers, operations(including exponentiation), comparison

Basic property of integers(sign, parity, divisibility)

Basic modular arithmetic(addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)

Prime numbers(Its a vast topic)

Fractions and percentages

Line, line segment, angle, triangle, rectangle, square, circle(and specially

way to represent them in your code)

Point, vector, coordinates in a plane

Polygon(vertex, side/edge, simple, convex, inside, area)

Euclidean distances

Pythogorean theorem(There are pretty diverse use of this theorem)

In some questions you might need Fermats Little Theorem, Chinese

remainder theorem, or may need to use the Euler function etc. You need
to get better in number theory. I have encountered some problems on
codechef which need these myself.

Knowing some techniques like Euclidean Algorithm and fast

exponentiation are considered to be a prerequisite in some contests.

Some computational geometry techniques like Graham Scan and convex

hull.

Discrete Structures:-

Functions, Relations and Sets

Functions(surjections, injections, inverses, composition)

Relations(reflexivity, symmetry, transitivity, equivalence relations,

total/linear order relations, lexicographic order)
 Sets(cardinality, inclusion/exclusion, complements, Cartesian products,
power sets)

Basic Logic

First-order logic

Logical connectives(including their basic properties)

Truth Tables

Universal and Existential quantification

Modus ponens and Modus tollens(Not to get intimidated by the names

:P)

Proof techniques(You dont need them too rigorously)

Basics of Counting

Counting arguments (sum and product rule, arithmetic and geometric

progressions, Fibonacci numbers)

Permutations and combinations (basic definitions)

Factorial function, binomial coefficients

Inclusion-exclusion principle

Pigeonhole principle

Pascals identity, Binomial theorem

Solving recurrence relations

Burnside Lemma

Graphs and trees

Trees and their basic properties, rooted trees

Undirected graphs (degree, path, cycle, connectedness, Euler/Hamilton

path/cycle, handshaking lemma)

Directed graphs (in-degree, out-degree, directed path/cycle,

Euler/Hamilton path/cycle)

Spanning trees

Traversal strategies

Decorated graphs with edge/node labels, weights, colors

Multigraphs, graphs with self-loops

Bipartite graphs

Planar graphs

Probability theory(This is not in the scope of syllabus of the IOI so I

wont be going into the details. I would leave a resource here for
your reference tho, cause I am an angel 0:-))

Topcoder Tutorial: Understanding Probabilities

Linear Algebra(including but not limited to)

Matrix multiplication, exponentiation, inversion, and Gaussian elimination

Fast Fourier transform

Even though, many of these topics are not to be mastered rigorously, some are
prerequisites and competitive programmers should have the basic knowledge of at
least most of them to be among the top tier of programmers.

I hope this helped :D

Happy Coding!

Source: IOI syllabus 2015

2.1k Views View Upvotes Answer requested by Aulene De

Arun Prasad, Sport programmer for over a year

Updated 26 Oct 2016
Discrete Mathematics Mainly

1.Discrete Maths and Logics

2. Number Theory
3.Graph Theory
4.Mathematical Structures
5.Probablity Theory

First Do this
Mathematics For Computer Science By MIT OpenCourse Ware

Mathematics for Computer Science

This will cover all maths needed for programming like Graph Theory, Number system
etc.

Then start learning algorithms

Good Luck :)

1.6k Views View Upvotes

Vivek Raj, I am extremely interested in TOC.

Written 6 Nov 2016

Just fundamentals things nothing else. But it will depends upon what level of
competitive programming are you talking about. But in any case if you are strong
with you programming skills then you will easily surpass the mathematics barrier.Try
to solve programming challenge on various websites like codechef to enhance your
skills, you will find your answer. My approach is always do problems then theory.

285 Views View Upvotes Answer requested by Anuj Jain

Aulene De, All hail DP

Written 26 Oct 2016

Most answers have already outlined whatever you needed. Ill drop this website here,
About - Project Euler

Im pretty weak when it comes to mathematical problem-solving (i.e problems which

are entirely mathematical and not as algorithmic in nature). Solving Project Euler
problems gives you the best insight as to what type of problems can be formed
based on math, in my opinion. Ive been trying to do 12 questions a day since a little
less than a week ago, and can say that Ive improved since then. You learn
something after every problem.

Theres also a contest on HackerRank for the same.

603 Views View Upvotes

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