Algorithm X

Periodic Table Spelling

Puzzle: Periodic Table Spelling

Author: @Edjy

Published Difficulty: Easy

Algorithm X Complexity: A Benchmarking Opportunity

Overview

It is not often an opportunity comes along to test your skills on an exact-cover puzzle classified as “easy”. If you have completed a reasonable portion of this playground, you should be able to fly through this puzzle. I suggest you take this opportunity to test your knowledge and benchmark your learning. Use the following questions to reflect on your results:

• How much of your AlgorithmXSolver subclass were you able to write from memory?
• How many syntax errors did you need to correct?
• Did you make errors setting up your requirements and actions?
• How long did it take before you had a full solution?

In my introduction to this playground, I made a handful of promises, including:

• You will become proficient with a powerful and repeatable problem-solving technique known as Algorithm X.
• You will experience the compelling nature of reusable software architectures.
• You will find [puzzles] significantly easier than [they] would have been otherwise.
• You will have a lot of fun.

My hope is that this benchmarking exercise demonstrates why I made those promises.