Puzzles for Programmers and Pros

Product Description

* Aimed at both working programmers who are applying for a job where puzzles are an integral part of the interview, as well as techies who just love a good puzzle, this book offers a cache of exciting puzzles
* Features a new series of puzzles, never before published, called elimination puzzles that have a pedagogical aim of helping the reader solve an entire class of Sudoku-like puzzles
* Provides the tools to solve the puzzles by hand and computer
* The first part of each chapter presents a puzzle; the second part shows readers how to solve several classes of puzzles algorithmically; the third part asks the reader to solve a mystery involving codes, puzzles, and geography
* Comes with a unique bonus: if readers actually solve the mystery, they have a chance to win a prize, which will be promoted on wrox.com!

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #24720 in Books
* Published on: 2007-05-07
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 240 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Puzzles for Programmers and Pros

Solving puzzles demands a mindset that starts with a vulnerable openness followed by a rigorous drive to find a solution. Whether you're preparing for a programming job interview or just like a challenge, this book takes you on a tour of problem-solving techniques so you can dramatically improve your skills. You'll learn how to conquer simple elimination puzzles like Sudoku and how to apply heuristic techniques to far more complex problems.

Dr. Shasha provides you with the tools to solve several classes of puzzles by handand computer. These include scheduling,strategic, geometric, and probabilistic puzzles. You'll also find a mystery involving codes, bank accounts, and geography that you can solve for the chance to win a prize. The approaches and techniques in this book will help you solve the kind of application puzzles the real world may throw at you.

What you will learn from this book

* How to expand your puzzle-solving abilities and tackle new challenges
*

Proven steps that will help you quickly progress from basic puzzles to a more advanced level
*

How to prepare for various types of puzzles presented during a programming interview
*

Techniques for determining the best solution to a puzzle
*

Methods for solving puzzles using decryption and combinatorics

Who this book is for

This book is for programmers who need to brush up on their puzzle-solving skills as they prepare for the programming job interview. It is also for anyone who love puzzles and challenges.

Wrox guides are crafted to make learning programming languages and technologies easier than you think, providing a structured, tutorial format that will guide you through all the techniques involved.

About the Author
Dr. Dennis Shasha is a professor of Mathematical Sciences in the Department of Computer Science at NYU. Along with research and teaching in biological computing, pattern recognition, database tuning , cryptographic file systems, and the like, Dennis is well-known for his mathematical puzzle column for Dr. Dobbs whose readers are very sharp and his Puzzling Adventures Column for the Scientific American. His puzzle writing has given birth to fictional books about a mathematical detective named Dr. Ecco. Dr. Shasha has also co-authored numerous highly technical books. Dennis speaks often at conferences and is a tireless self-promoter in the world of “mensa-like” puzzles.
Customer Reviews

Great Puzzles5
Terrific set of puzzles for IT. We use them as weekly contests, and most have just the right balance between "can't figure out in your head" and "impossible and massively time consuming" for an office environment. Highly recommended!

Did not like the language of the book2
The puzzle descriptions lack clarity of definitions. In many cases I spent more time trying to understand the description of the problem, then finding the solution. Provided solutions also lack mathematical precision. If I could, I would return this book.

Pratical examples of algorithm in action5
Before reading this book, I actually did not know how to use the dynamic programming algorithm in practice. This books taught me in one page from "Sweet Packs" puzzle. The solution is so simple and elegance that I can still remember it almost a year later. I was surprised to see how an ordinary problem can be solved with an old algorithm from a different perspective.
This book is unique. Unlike other puzzle book, it's dedicated for programmers. And I think doing puzzle from time to time may help improve brain function. Some of the problems can be hard. If you want some simple puzzles for interview, you may also try this book "How would you move mount Fuji? - Microsoft's cult of puzzle".