Greedy Algorithms

This lesson introduces the greedy problem-solving technique.

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Greedy method

Greedy is an algorithmic paradigm that builds up a solution, piece by piece. This means it chooses the next piece that offers the most obvious and immediate benefit. A Greedy algorithm, as the name implies, always makes the choice that seems to be the best at the time. It makes a locally-optimal choice in the hope that it will lead to a globally optimal solution.

If you have a problem where the locally-optimal choice leads to a global solution, the best fit is the Greedy technique.

The Greedy method can solve a problem that satisfies the below-mentioned properties:

  1. Greedy choice property: A global optimum can be arrived at by selecting a local optimum.
  2. Optimal substructure: An optimal solution to the complete problem contains an optimal solution to subproblems.

Greedy algorithms work by recursively constructing a set of pieces from the smallest possible constituent parts.

Example: find the largest path

Recursion is an approach to problem-solving in which the solution to a particular problem depends on solutions to smaller instances of the same problem.

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