Dynamic Programming Masterclass (2024) from Udemy

Welcome to "AI won't teach Dynamic Programming this way (Java)", a comprehensive course designed for programmers and computer science enthusiasts eager to deepen their understanding of this crucial algorithmic technique. Dynamic Programming (DP) is a method for solving complex problems by breaking them down into simpler subproblems. This course is tailored to equip you with a robust understanding of DP concepts, enabling you to apply them in various programming challenges and real-world scenarios.

Broad Categories of DP problems that we teach in this course:

Longest Increasing Subsequence & Variations: Dive into the intricacies of finding the longest increasing subsequence in a sequence of numbers, along with its various forms and applications.
Longest Common Subsequence (LCS) & Variations: Explore the LCS problem, crucial in file comparison, DNA sequencing, and more, and learn about its different versions.
Buy and Sell Stock Problems & Variations: Analyze different scenarios in stock trading to maximize profit using DP, covering various constraints and conditions.
Matrix Pattern Problems & Variations: Master DP approaches for matrix-related problems, crucial in image processing, game development, and other areas.
DP in Trees & Variations: Explore how DP can be extended to more than arrays and 2D arrays. The problems in this category varies a lot in difficulty levels and is crucial when it comes to intermediate level problem solving skills.

Course Structure

Video Lectures: Engaging and detailed video lectures for each topic, offering both theoretical understanding and practical examples.
Quizzes: After each lecture, test your understanding with comprehensive quizzes which are actual coding interview follow-ups.
Resources: Java code for each problem discussed in lectures.

Who This Course Is For

Anyone studying Data Structures and Algorithms
Anyone who is interested in improving their problem solving skills
Anyone looking to begin or enhance their journey in Dynamic Programming
Anyone aiming to get ready for coding interviews of any kind

What You Will Learn

Gain the ability to visualize and comprehend the majority of Dynamic Programming challenges
Solve actual interview problems and follow-ups
Understand basics of Recursion and how to use it for advanced problem solving
Understand detailed solutions with code in Java to over 15 popular Dynamic Programming questions
Intermediate level problem solving skills
Enhance your problem-solving abilities and grow as a more proficient developer

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of programming (preferably in Python, Java, Javascript or C++).
Basic knowledge of Data Structures like 2D Arrays and Trees would be beneficial.

What's Included

Access to all video lectures and quizzes.
Downloadable resources and lectures.
Certificate of completion.

It is essential to note that all the problems we discuss in this course are among the most asked MAANG (Meta/Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google) interview questions.

Enroll now and embark on your journey to mastering Dynamic Programming, an essential skill for every programmer.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Gain the ability to visualize and comprehend the majority of dynamic programming challenges
Solve actual interview problems and follow-ups
Understand detailed solutions with code in java to over 15 popular dynamic programming questions

Intermediate level problem solving skills
Enhance your problem-solving abilities and grow as a more proficient developer

Gain the ability to visualize and comprehend the majority of dynamic programming challenges
Solve actual interview problems and follow-ups
Understand detailed solutions with code in java to over 15 popular dynamic programming questions
Intermediate level problem solving skills
Enhance your problem-solving abilities and grow as a more proficient developer

Syllabus

Introduction

How to go through this course

Want to Lay the Foundations Right?

Master LIS Type of DP Problems

Note: In our lecture on the LIS problem, we emphasized strictly increasing subsequences ( > ), while in our coding demonstration, we accommodated non-decreasing sequences ( >= ). Remember, depending on the context, you may choose either approach as needed.

This constrained version of LIS can be one of the questions you might get in your interviews as a follow-up. It tests your ability to tweak an existing algorithm (LIS) to accommodate a new constraint, a skill that demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in problem-solving.

What is my LIS?

Can you find the longest chain of pairs?

This quiz aims to test basic understanding of the problem’s constraints and how they influence the formation of the chain.

Do you want to nest some envelopes with me?

This quiz is designed to test understanding of sorting strategies and their impact on dynamic programming solutions.

Master LCS Type of DP Problems

Did someone say Longest Common Subsequence?

This quiz aims to challenge learners on thinking how they can extend an existing algorithm for a different input.

Is there a thing like Edit Distance?

This quiz demonstrates to learners how minor modifications in a problem statement can introduce additional complexity. It also aims to enhance their skills in formulating the correct recurrence relation.

How do you find the length of the Longest Palindromic Subsequence?

This quiz will develop their ability to adapt and apply fundamental algorithms to modified or extended problem scenarios, particularly focusing on the impact of minor changes (like removing a character) on the solution strategy.

What's the Min ASCII sum you can get after deleting some characters?

This quiz is designed to engage learners in critical thinking by demonstrating how a seemingly minor modification, such as optimizing for the maximum instead of the minimum, can fundamentally alter the dynamics of a problem.

Master Buy and Sell Stock (State Machine) Type of DP Problems

How much profit can I make by buying and selling stocks?

What's my profit if I can do only 1 transaction?

How much profit can I make by buying and selling stocks with Transaction Fees?

How much profit can I make by buying and selling stocks with Buying Fees?

How much profit can I make by buying and selling stocks with Cool Down time?

How much profit can I make by buying and selling stocks with Buy Cool Down time?

Master Matrix (2D Grid) Type of DP Problems

In how many unique ways can we reach your destination?

This quiz slightly modifies a constraint in our problem. It demonstrates how this change impacts the recurrence relation and, consequently, the overall solvability of the problem.

In how many unique ways can we reach our destination with some obstacles?

This quiz offers a chance to improve your skill in recognizing special cases within a problem. This ability is extremely valuable for any programmer and is consistently tested in interviews.

What's the sum of min falling path in this grid?

What's the min horizontal path sum in this grid?

Master DP in Trees Type of Problems

How to maximize robbery in a Binary Tree?

How to maximize robbery in a Binary tree with more freedom?

What's the Maximum Path Sum In A Binary Tree?

What's the max path sum when all nodes are positive?

Credits

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on dynamic programming, which is a method for solving complex problems by breaking them down into simpler subproblems, making it highly relevant for algorithm design and optimization

Includes quizzes after each lecture that are actual coding interview follow-ups, providing practical experience and preparation for job interviews

Uses Java code for each problem discussed in lectures, which is beneficial for those proficient in Java or looking to improve their Java programming skills

Requires basic knowledge of programming, preferably in Python, Java, Javascript, or C++, suggesting it is designed for those with some prior coding experience

Covers a range of dynamic programming problems, including those related to stock trading and matrix manipulation, which are useful in various real-world applications

Includes problems that are among the most asked MAANG (Meta/Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google) interview questions, making it valuable for job seekers

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Dynamic Programming Masterclass (2024) with these activities:

Review Recursion Fundamentals

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Reinforce your understanding of recursion, a foundational concept for dynamic programming. Understanding recursion will make it easier to grasp the logic behind breaking down problems into subproblems.

Browse courses on Recursion

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Study the definition of recursion and its applications.
Practice writing simple recursive functions.
Trace the execution of recursive functions to understand the call stack.

Review 'Cracking the Coding Interview'

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Supplement your learning with a review of common dynamic programming problems and solutions. This book provides a practical approach to problem-solving, which is essential for mastering dynamic programming.

View Cracking the Coding Interview on Amazon

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Read the dynamic programming chapter.
Solve the dynamic programming problems in the book.
Compare your solutions with the book's solutions.

Help Other Students with Dynamic Programming Problems

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Reinforce your understanding of dynamic programming by helping other students. Explaining concepts to others is a great way to solidify your own knowledge.

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Participate in online forums or study groups.
Answer questions about dynamic programming concepts.
Explain your solutions to dynamic programming problems.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Create a Dynamic Programming Tutorial

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Solidify your understanding of dynamic programming by creating a tutorial for others. This will force you to think critically about the concepts and explain them in a clear and concise manner.

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Choose a specific dynamic programming topic.
Research the topic thoroughly.
Write a clear and concise tutorial explaining the topic.
Include examples and illustrations.

Solve LeetCode Dynamic Programming Problems

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Sharpen your dynamic programming skills by solving a variety of problems on LeetCode. This will help you apply the concepts learned in the course to different scenarios.

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Select a set of dynamic programming problems on LeetCode.
Solve each problem independently.
Analyze the time and space complexity of your solutions.
Compare your solutions with the top-voted solutions.

Implement a Dynamic Programming Solution for a Real-World Problem

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Apply your dynamic programming knowledge to solve a real-world problem. This will help you solidify your understanding and develop your problem-solving skills.

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Identify a real-world problem that can be solved using dynamic programming.
Design a dynamic programming solution for the problem.
Implement the solution in Java.
Test and debug the solution.

Review 'Introduction to Algorithms' (CLRS)

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Deepen your understanding of the theoretical foundations of dynamic programming. This book provides a rigorous treatment of the subject, which can help you develop a more nuanced understanding.

View Introduction to Algorithms, fourth edition on Amazon

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Read the dynamic programming chapter.
Work through the examples and exercises in the book.
Compare the book's approach with the course's approach.

Career center

Learners who complete Dynamic Programming Masterclass (2024) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Algorithm Developer

An algorithm developer creates and optimizes algorithms for various applications. This course provides a focused study of dynamic programming, a core algorithmic technique. The course's detailed exploration of longest increasing subsequence, longest common subsequence, and matrix pattern problems help an algorithm developer sharpen skills specific to their field. Working on practical problems in the course, especially those related to MAANG interviews, will be directly applicable to the algorithm design process. The intermediate problem solving skills acquired by learners of this course are highly relevant to this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Algorithm Developer

Software Engineer

A software engineer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course helps a software engineer build a foundation in dynamic programming, a critical technique for optimizing algorithms used in complex software. The course specifically covers various dynamic programming problem categories, such as longest common subsequence and stock trading optimization, which can directly translate into developing efficient code. By working through quizzes and resources, an engineer can strengthen problem-solving skills, which is useful for coding real-world applications. Understanding how to solve problems using dynamic programming can make you a more proficient developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Quantitative Analyst

A quantitative analyst, often called a quant, develops and implements mathematical models for financial markets. This course directly addresses dynamic programming challenges like the buy and sell stock problems, which are highly relevant to quantitative finance. This course helps a quant hone skills for deriving optimal solutions, which is important for trading and risk management applications. The course also provides detailed solutions with code, which supports the implementation of these models. A quant will gain a better understanding of recursion and how to use it for advanced problem solving.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Financial Software Developer

A financial software developer creates software for the financial industry. This course provides a strong foundation in dynamic programming, which is relevant to developing complex financial systems. The course's coverage of stock trading problems provides practical, relevant experience in financial applications. A financial software developer will enhance their problem solving and algorithmic design abilities. The skills taught in this course would be directly applicable to the financial industry, especially when it comes to optimizing trading strategies and algorithms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Software Developer

Game Developer

A game developer designs and creates video games. This course may prove beneficial given that dynamic programming techniques are often used for optimization in game development. Matrix pattern problems covered in this course frequently arise in game design, such as pathfinding. The emphasis on practical problems and detailed solutions can help a game developer become a more proficient problem solver. The skills taught in this course will make you better equipped to deal with complex game logic development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Bioinformatician

A bioinformatician develops and applies computational tools to analyze biological data. This course may prove useful because dynamic programming techniques, such as those covered in this course, are often used in sequence alignment and analysis. Specifically, the focus on the longest common subsequence can be directly applicable to real-world problems in bioinformatics. The bioinformatician can apply these techniques to solve problems in genomics and proteomics. The course is helpful for building problem solving skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bioinformatician

Data Scientist

A data scientist uses algorithms and data analysis techniques to extract insights from data. This course may be useful to a data scientist because dynamic programming provides strategies for optimization and problem solving encountered in data analysis. The course covers practical dynamic programming problems that a data scientist may use in various data-intensive applications. Specifically, problems involving sequences and matrix patterns are frequently leveraged in data science. While not all data science roles use many of these techniques, this course improves general problem-solving skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Computational Biologist

A computational biologist applies computational techniques to solve biological problems. This course may be useful to a computational biologist, specifically when it comes to sequence alignment and optimization problems. The course's content on longest common subsequence (LCS) problems is directly applicable to DNA sequencing and bioinformatics. Therefore, this course could help a computational biologist with implementing algorithms in their work. It would also enhance their problem solving capabilities. Note that this role typically requires an advanced degree.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computational Biologist

Machine Learning Engineer

A Machine Learning Engineer creates and manages machine learning models in various applications. This course may be helpful for a machine learning engineer, as dynamic programming is useful for solving optimization problems. The practical approach to problem-solving, as seen in the course, may also help machine learning engineers tackle algorithm-intensive tasks. The course covers various dynamic programming problems which may indirectly be applicable to machine learning. In particular, the course enhances intermediate-level problem-solving skills, which is valuable in any technical role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Research Scientist

A research scientist conducts research, typically in academic or industrial settings. The course's content, focused on dynamic programming algorithms, can be a valuable asset in fields that use computational methods, making it useful to a research scientist. This course gives research scientists a deeper understanding of algorithmic design. This can improve the research process in fields that involve complex problem solving. The course's emphasis on problem solving and practical coding examples are useful for scientific research. Note that a research scientist typically has an advanced degree.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

Data Analyst

A data analyst interprets and analyzes data to identify trends and insights. This course may be useful to a data analyst, since dynamic programming techniques are useful for optimizing certain data analysis algorithms. The course enhances problem-solving skills. It also provides a foundation in dealing with sequential and matrix-based problems, which can be applicable to certain kinds of data analysis tasks. Although it is not a core skill, this course's focus on algorithmic thinking will benefit a data analyst's performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Robotics Engineer

A robotics engineer designs, builds, and tests robots and robotic systems. This course may be valuable to a robotics engineer, as dynamic programming is useful for solving path planning and optimization problems. This course offers practical experience with dynamic programming techniques that may be useful in the design of robotic systems. Solving matrix and tree problems can be directly applicable to challenges in programming robots. The course also enhances intermediate and advanced problem-solving skills which are useful for such a role.

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Full-Stack Developer

A full stack developer works on both the front end and back end of software applications. This course may be useful to a full stack developer because it provides a strong foundation in algorithms, useful for backend development. The dynamic programming techniques covered in the course may help a developer to optimize parts of an application. Although not directly related to front end development, this course does enhance problem-solving skills, which are valuable for any developer. This course could indirectly improve a full stack developer's performance and efficiency.

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Systems Architect

A systems architect designs the structure of computer systems. This course is helpful to a systems architect because it enhances problem-solving skills with dynamic programming. While not directly related to system architecture, the course's emphasis on optimizing algorithms using techniques like dynamic programming can be beneficial. Understanding such techniques will help a systems architect build a foundation for making well informed decisions in their design. In particular, the course enhances intermediate level problem solving abilities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Architect

Database Administrator

A database administrator manages and maintains database systems. The course may be useful to a database administrator because it improves general problem solving skills. Although dynamic programming is not a direct aspect of a database administration role, the ability to work through step-by-step solutions to real-world problems can be valuable for problem-solving tasks encountered in database administration. The course teaches intermediate level problem solving skills and enhances overall computational thinking abilities. If you plan on taking on coding tasks, this course may help.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Dynamic Programming Masterclass (2024)

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