Subtle

Hi

The word "subtle" can mean "cunning, crafty, tricky..."

So I think your sentence means...

- Greedy algorithms are useful and can be powerful but - be careful - sometimes they will return a result that looks correct but, in fact, is deceiving you

Hope this helps

Dave

Hi

Just as an afterthought - in some translations of the first book of the Bible: "the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field"

This is the same meaning of "subtle"

Davve

Why not 'not obvious'?

Hi

Yes, I like that...

- Greedy algorithms will usually bring back the right answer quickly; the problem is that, when they don't, it won't be obvious

The choice of words comes from your original text and, as said, "subtle" does mean something that may deceive you. It may not have been the best word - although I knew what it meant

Dave

Hi guys,

What does 'subtle' mean in:

Despite their simplicity, correct greedy algorithms can be subtle.

I take this to mean 'They sometimes make a choice that seems wrong. But if you consider it very carefully, you see that it is right'.

Clive

Hi

I found a web page that explains the greedy algorithm in a way that I could understand (http://www.seeingwithc.org/topic1html.html)

The example given is...

Question: I work in country where the coin denominations are 1, 10, 30 and 40. If I have to pay out 60; what is the fewest c

Hi

I take your point and, no, that doesn't make sense

I found the source for the quote (http://bluehawk.monmouth.edu/rclayton/web-pages/f08-306/greed.html) and it seems to be someone's lecture notes that are written in a fairly shorthand fashion. The quote appears abou