Dynamic Programming

Dynamic Programming | Set 1 (Overlapping Subproblems Property)

Dynamic Programming is an algorithmic paradigm that solves a given complex problem by breaking it into subproblems and stores the results of subproblems to avoid computing the same results again. Following are the two main properties of a problem that suggest that the given problem can be solved using Dynamic programming.

In this post, we will discuss first property (Overlapping Subproblems) in detail. The second property of Dynamic programming is discussed in next post i.e. Set 2.

1) Overlapping Subproblems
2) Optimal Substructure

1) Overlapping Subproblems:
Like Divide and Conquer, Dynamic Programming combines solutions to sub-problems. Dynamic Programming is mainly used when solutions of same subproblems are needed again and again. In dynamic programming, computed solutions to subproblems are stored in a table so that these don’t have to recomputed. So Dynamic Programming is not useful when there are no common (overlapping) subproblems because there is no point storing the solutions if they are not needed again. For example, Binary Search doesn’t have common subproblems. If we take example of following recursive program for Fibonacci Numbers, there are many subproblems which are solved again and again.