![[missing "en.views.course_landing_page.technical-interview-practice-python.course_illustration" translation]](http://www.codecademy.com/webpack/b7c31c2fb065ba5cd0be243025bcb33a.svg)
Key Concepts
Review core concepts you need to learn to master this subject
Dynamic Programming
Dynamic Programming
Dynamic programming is both a mathematical optimization method and a computer programming method. It simplifies a complicated problem by breaking it down into simpler sub-problems.
It can be applied to combinatorial and optimization problems such as finding the shortest path between two points or finding the smallest set of objects that satisfies some criteria.
- 1
Dynamic programming is an optimization strategy for designing algorithms. The technique is beneficial for technical interviews because solving problems with an optimal big O runtime will improve yo…
- 2
Storing answers to sub-problems is an essential aspect of dynamic programming. Let’s explore why this is the case. The Fibonacci Sequence is a series of numbers where the next number equals the …
- 3
The Fibonacci sequence is a perfect case to apply dynamic programming. Each Fibonacci number relies on two previous numbers, and those numbers never change. We have overlapping sub-problems! W…
- 4
Dynamic programming is especially helpful for problems where there are many different options and we have a particular goal we’re trying to maximize. For the sake of learning, we’re going to imagi…
- 5
Our brute force approach is inefficient! We’re compounding work by creating many different combinations that contain the same items. Just like with Fibonacci, we’re repeating computations that won’…
- 6
With our grid built, we only need to fill it in to find our optimal value. Remember: each column is the capacity of a knapsack and each row is an item we can add. The first row is “no item” and the…
- 7
Dynamic programming is a technique to optimize solutions for problems which have a structure that involves repeated, identical computations. For dynamic programming to work, it’s essential that t…
What you'll create
Portfolio projects that showcase your new skills
How you'll master it
Stress-test your knowledge with quizzes that help commit syntax to memory