I was playing around with a keyboard at a Guitar Center that had an auto-harmonize feature. Below a certain note pressing a key would play a chord instead of a single tone. What was interesting was that playing chromatically (white and black keys) it played chords that retained a firm sense of key (C major) - if you jumped around randomly or did chromatic runs it didn't sound like there were a bunch of modulations taking place. What formula do you think it used to do this?
posted by phrontist on Aug 31, 2009 - 8 answers

I need help solving an interesting algorithm using 'C'! [more inside]
posted by niwnfyc on Jul 15, 2009 - 6 answers

I have almost a year's worth of GPS track logs. I'd like to be able to automatically split them by trip type (walking, biking, car) and filter out some of the noise that gets generated when leaving the GPS on while stationary. [more inside]
posted by komilnefopa on Mar 17, 2009 - 3 answers

Best ways to prep/study for CS Algorithm/Google style job interviews? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 26, 2009 - 19 answers

I'm looking for some help with a math equation / algorithm I'm trying to create. I'm a programmer by trade and not very good at math so I'd like some help with this or perhaps a site where I could pay someone to come up with the equation I'm looking for. I considered rentacoder or elance however I'd be concerned if the companies there had the proper math knowledge. A lot of claims get made on those sites that turn out to be false. [more inside]
posted by JohnGL on Jul 3, 2008 - 6 answers

What clustering technique to use? [more inside]
posted by Blazecock Pileon on Jun 11, 2008 - 6 answers

Sorting algorithm - how would you do this? [more inside]
posted by Lokheed on Jun 7, 2008 - 16 answers

I'm looking for a fuzzy text-matching algorithm for an autocomplete widget. [more inside]
posted by sonofslim on May 10, 2008 - 9 answers

Im a Freshman Computer Engin. Major and I want to learn more programming/logic by myself. Any books/Resources/Sample Projects you might recommend? [more inside]
posted by Javed_Ahamed on Apr 24, 2008 - 22 answers

Is there an elegant algorithm to determine if a dfa is minimal? Obviously you can minimize a dfa and then check to see if the result is isomorphic to the original. Is there another way?
posted by rdr on Apr 20, 2008 - 4 answers

What is this logical/matrix/algorithm symbol? [more inside]
posted by i love cheese on Nov 2, 2007 - 12 answers

Imagine: You have an upcoming interview that will be heavily focused on algorithms (specifically computer language related but not a specific language). What resources would you turn to?
posted by purephase on Jun 6, 2007 - 12 answers

I've charged with adding a feature to a shift scheduler / coverage requestor that displays shift information for a given week. I've been able to display them so as to satisfy the constraints I've been given, but it's got me wondering wondering if there's a more rigorous/mathematical approach to the general problem of organizing the display of any such calendar information. [more inside]
posted by Frankieist on Apr 12, 2007 - 3 answers

In the office we’ll be moving to soon, we’ll have about 50 desks, and almost that many workers to be assigned to them. How can we optimize who’s assigned to each desk so that as many workers as possible are as pleased as possible with their desk assignment? [more inside]
posted by daisyace on Feb 21, 2007 - 19 answers

Is there a standard ball picking algorithm? I have 10 balls that I want put in four boxes (A-D). Every box can hold zero to all balls. [more inside]
posted by davar on Feb 9, 2007 - 10 answers

How do you fairly score a pub quiz? The quiz I run always has wildly varying team sizes - from one guy on his own to groups of eight or nine. It seems obvious to me that a sole participant who scores 95% has done better than a group of ten who score 100%, but I'd like an algorithm that will calculate a fair score for every team. I've tried to create one using exemplar data but I just don't seem to be able to hit the right combination of terms. My basic data set consists of (number of team members) and (score out of 100). Any statisticians out there with a solution? Bonus points if the algorithm is easily understandable to the general public.
posted by alby on Dec 10, 2006 - 20 answers

I have many short strings of varying lengths — between a dozen and a few hundred, most likely — and one long string. I need to write code that will find a way to assemble a copy of the long string using as few of the short strings as possible. If it's not possible to assemble a complete copy of the long string, it should assemble a copy with as few and as small gaps as possible. [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone on Oct 8, 2006 - 26 answers

computer vision: i need an algorithm to extract statistics about the diameters (in pixels) of some roughly-circular objects from an image file. [more inside]
posted by sergeant sandwich on May 20, 2006 - 15 answers

Efficient string array comparisons in PHP, and a question about Apache and PHP performance... [more inside]
posted by Mr. Six on May 13, 2006 - 16 answers

How do heart rate monitors estimate how many calories you burn while exercising? [more inside]
posted by betterton on Feb 26, 2006 - 2 answers

I'm looking for the appropriate algorithm to use to compare two files. I think I can do better than diff due to some added constraints. [more inside]
posted by Khalad on Feb 2, 2006 - 25 answers

I have a list of coordinates (in [x,y] format), and they define the perimeter of a shape. I can't quite work out an algorithm for drawing round the perimeter of this shape, without crossing the shape. Google has failed me, and my A-level in maths is all but a hazy memory now... Algorithm gods, your time is now! [more inside]
posted by gaby on Dec 22, 2005 - 5 answers

How to give away a limited number of items as fairly as possible? [more inside]
posted by AmbroseChapel on Oct 27, 2005 - 11 answers

I have a group of eight people. Sue, Jim, Pat, Don, Bob, Joe, Liz, Ned. I need to get a list of all the possible groups, sized 1 - 6, which could make from these people, while observing a few rules. [more inside]
posted by kenaman on Oct 11, 2005 - 22 answers

Programming/geometry: in a Flash program (you don't need to know Flash to answer this), I'm trying to place rectangular images at random positions on the screen. There are already images on the screen. I need to make sure that the new, randomly-placed images don't obscure the images already there. [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Sep 29, 2005 - 25 answers

Is there a way to represent algorithms in a form that in turn requires minimal or no knowldege of other algorithms? [more inside]
posted by Rothko on Sep 15, 2005 - 33 answers

Does anyone have a simple, reasonably fair, method for generating random numbers in their head (or with pen and paper)? [more inside]
posted by andrew cooke on Jun 24, 2005 - 16 answers

My friend is (foolishly) trying to start up a record label. He wants to be able to schedule various bands at various venues, and optimize the bands' schedules to minimize travel cost. How would he do this? [more inside]
posted by sandking on Mar 6, 2005 - 12 answers

I'm looking for some algorithms for generating binaural sounds. [more inside]
posted by Ryvar on Feb 19, 2005 - 10 answers

I'm trying to read O'reilly's "AI for Game Developers," and it's a bit over my head. On page 17, there's an algorithm that moves a preditor towards a pray. There's a constant (or variable?) in the code called _TOL which isn't explained anywhere in the text. What is _TOL? Also, there's a variable (called v) that's defined buy never used. What gives? [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Nov 18, 2004 - 5 answers

I am looking for an index data structure and query algorithm to solve a specific problem. Each row in the table represents a range, with a start/end value; I want to look up all the rows that overlap a certain value. [more inside]
posted by Mars Saxman on Oct 7, 2004 - 13 answers

Programming Filter: I need some advice on a tree-building algorithm. (Tree as in the "+" and the tree branches out, like in Windows Explorer.) The language is PHP, but since I'm looking for an algorithm rather than actual code, any programmer with mad skills should be able to help. More inside. [more inside]
posted by SpecialK on Sep 27, 2004 - 16 answers

In the teach a man to fish cat., what's the best way to solve computer problems?[mi] [more inside]
posted by drezdn on Jun 23, 2004 - 12 answers

Does anyone know/can anyone approximate what shuffle algorithm iTunes uses?
posted by the fire you left me on Apr 18, 2004 - 8 answers