W07: Interview Cheat Sheet
Overview
In software development, "Cheat Sheet" is a common term for a reference card that can be used to quickly look up information. When learning a new application or tool, people often download a cheat sheet of the keyboard shortcuts or common commands. For this assignment you will create a cheat sheet of the data structures information you have learned this semester that you could review in the future as you prepare for job interviews.
It is important to recognize that there are many data structure cheat sheets on the Internet already. The purpose of this assignment is not to find and download one. Instead, the purpose of this assignment is for you to go through the process of creating one yourself. The work that you do to review and summarize the topics you have learned will help you solidify your understanding of these concepts.
This assignment must be completed individually to ensure you are meeting all course outcomes. You should not complete this assignment within a group. If you obtain help from a tutor, the tutor should help you understand principles but should not help you answer these problems. It is an honor code violation to obtain answers for these problems from others including using the internet (i.e. sites that allow students to share their solutions).
Instructions
Create a concise document that contains a summary of the data structures we have covered this semester.
The following steps will guide you through this process:
- Download the Cheat Sheet Starting Template
- Begin with the first data structure, fill out each section. Refer back to the course materials as needed to review.
- Graphic: For the graphic of the data structure, you need to capture the essence of the data structure and its operations in an image, using arrows, boxes, etc. You may wish to use Microsoft PowerPoint, Word or Google Slides to help create it, or you are also welcome to draw your graphic by hand and take a picture of it to include in the document.
- Purpose and Example (3-5 sentences): Briefly describe the purpose of the data structure. Then give an example of a software scenario where you might use this data structure. Your example should be something from your own creativity and should not be one of the examples included in the reading.
- Time Complexity of Common Operations: Document the Big-O time complexity of the worst case performance to insert a new item into the data structure and to find/retrieve an item in the collection.
- Repeat this process for each data structure in the document.
Submission
When you have finished the assignment:
- Return to I-Learn to submit your document.
Other Links:
- Return to: Week Overview | Course Home