CS 3343/3341
 Analysis of Algorithms 
 Textbook 

Introduction
to Algorithms, 3rd Ed.
  • Textbook: Introduction to Algorithms, 3rd Ed. by T.H.Cormen, C.E.Leiserson, R.L.Rivest. (An excellent text, though very large. See below for pluses and minuses with the book.)

  • 3rd Ed. on amazon.com: The "UTSA" (aka Follett's) Bookstore has its pricing policy: "We will not be oversold: If you can find it at a higher price, we'll raise our price also." Thus I assume they will be selling the book at list price, $92. Adding 8.125% sales tax, gives $99.48. The price on Amazon bounces up and down from day to day (a deliberate strategy on the part of Amazon), from below $60 to above $70. (On 24 July 2012, the new price was $51.12.) Recently it was $57.50, with free shipping, a good buy. After 1 July 2012 Amazon has started charging sales tax in Texas, so the above price from Amazon goes up $4.67 to $62.17, which is 62% of UTSA's price. (You would save $37.31.)

    The UTSA bookstore's used price (if available) for this book is $69, plus tax making it $74.61, which is $12.44 more than Amazon's new price. UTSA also has a rentals for half price (don't waste your money on a rental).

    This text is also available in a paperback edition through Amazon for $26.80, but from a different seller: Paperback. I know nothing about this offer. You should be sure you're getting the third edition. (Also a paperback this big may not hold up so well.)

  • The Second edition of this book is fairly close to the third, and you could use it if that's what you have.

Pluses:

Minuses:

Competing books on algorithms:

There are lots of older classical books that are good, including especially the 4 books by Donald Knuth (which are very difficult). The other great classic is:

The Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms [Paperback] Alfred V. Aho, John E. Hopcroft, J. D. Ullman, 470 pages, January 11, 1974, $51.25 on Amazon here. Despite its age, the book is not dated, but it is very difficult.

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