The book "Approximation Algorithms for NP-Hard Problems" edited by Dorit S. Hochbaum, published by PWS Publishing Company in 1997, addresses the challenges of solving optimization problems that are NP-hard. The introduction highlights the limitations of finding exact solutions for such problems and introduces the concept of approximation algorithms, which aim to find solutions that are close to optimal but can be computed more efficiently. The book covers various design techniques for approximation algorithms and evaluates their performance through lower bounds and inapproximability results. It also discusses additional structural requirements for algorithms, such as online algorithms and those working within limited resources. The content is organized into several chapters, each focusing on specific areas of approximation algorithms, including scheduling, bin packing, covering and packing problems, network design, cut problems, and geometric problems. The book aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the field, making it accessible to both researchers and practitioners.The book "Approximation Algorithms for NP-Hard Problems" edited by Dorit S. Hochbaum, published by PWS Publishing Company in 1997, addresses the challenges of solving optimization problems that are NP-hard. The introduction highlights the limitations of finding exact solutions for such problems and introduces the concept of approximation algorithms, which aim to find solutions that are close to optimal but can be computed more efficiently. The book covers various design techniques for approximation algorithms and evaluates their performance through lower bounds and inapproximability results. It also discusses additional structural requirements for algorithms, such as online algorithms and those working within limited resources. The content is organized into several chapters, each focusing on specific areas of approximation algorithms, including scheduling, bin packing, covering and packing problems, network design, cut problems, and geometric problems. The book aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the field, making it accessible to both researchers and practitioners.