Welcome to USACO Fundamental: Introduction to Algorithm I — your starting point for mastering the USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) Bronze level! This course is designed for students who already know the basics of C++ programming and are now ready to build a solid foundation in problem-solving and algorithms. By working through real USACO Bronze-level problems, you'll develop the core algorithmic thinking and coding skills needed to tackle competitive programming challenges.
Simulation – Modeling and simulating real-world scenarios step-by-step
Search Algorithms – Brute-force, exhaustive search, and intro to binary search
Recursion – Writing recursive functions to simplify complex problems
Sorting – Using built-in sorting, custom comparators, and applications in problem-solving
Graph Basics – Introduction to graph representation and simple traversals
Greedy Algorithms – Making optimal local decisions for global results
Geometry – Grid geometry, coordinates, distance calculations, and edge cases
Set/Map – Efficient data storage and lookup using STL containers
Ad Hoc Problems – Logical reasoning and pattern recognition in unexpected scenarios
File I/O – Reading from and writing to files in USACO format
Debugging & Edge Cases – Techniques to find and fix logical and runtime errors
Hands-on Practice: Weekly coding exercises and real USACO Bronze problems
Guided Walkthroughs: Step-by-step solutions and algorithm breakdowns
Live Support: Weekly Q&A and instructor code review
Flexible Learning: All lessons recorded with notes and code examples
Students who already know C++ and want to start competitive programming
Beginners aiming to participate in USACO Bronze or similar contests
Middle and high school students building algorithm foundations
Anyone preparing for coding competitions or technical interviews
10 weeks, with 1 session per week (1 hours per session)
A basic understanding of C++ programming is required (variables, loops, arrays, functions). Prior exposure to coding logic is highly recommended.
Video lectures and annotated problem walkthroughs
Weekly homework and challenge problems
Source code templates and C++ snippets
Practice datasets and USACO-style I/O guides
By the end of this course, you’ll be ready to tackle USACO Bronze problems with confidence, equipped with a solid grasp of essential algorithm techniques and problem-solving strategies.
Join Us Today and Build Your Competitive Programming Foundation!