On 10/06/2017 12:08 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: > But, it is a common attitutde. I gave an assignment of writing a > program that could sort a data set that was too big to fit into > memory. Students COMPLAINED (including complaint to the dean), saying > that the "CORRECT" solution is replace the computer with one with > more RAM. Response to assignment of optimizing an algorithm to make > it more efficient was: "replace the computer with a faster one." They > refused to accept the premise that there is any benefit to efficient > data structures or efficient algorithms.
I take it that your students didn't read Don Knuth's wonderful book on sorting and searching--the one with the fold-out chart on various tape sorts--including those for tape drives with "read backwards" capability. Shame--I found that to be a very entertaining tome. --Chuck
