There are books on algorithms that are rigorous but not complete and books that cover masses of material but are not rigorous. Introduction to Algorithms combines the attributes of comprehensiveness and comprehensibility. It will be equally useful as a text, a handbook, and a general reference. Introduction to Algorithms covers both classical material and such modern developments as amortized analysis and parallel algorithms. The mathematical exposition, while rigorous, is carefully detailed so that it will be accessible to all levels of readers. Chapters are organized so that they start with elementary material and progress to more advanced topics. Each chapter is relatively self-contained and can be used as a unit of study. Algorithms are presented in a pseudocode that can be easily read by anyone familiar with Fortran, C, or Pascal. Numerous pertinent examples, figures, exercises, and case-study problems emphasize both engineering and mathematical aspects of the subject.