1 Course Themes

There are two main themes to this course:

• Automata – models of how computing can be done

• Formal languages – models of problems we might want to solve

Together these define the theoretical core that defines much of the “science” in Computer Science.

Direct impact on:

• Common software development problems

  • What can and cannot be computed.

• Compiler design

• Programming language design

This is a Mathematical Course

The goal of the course is to instill an understanding of how mathematical theory underlies computer science and affects the things that software developers do on a regular basis.

• There will be lots of mathematical notation.

  • Some of which you will be writing yourself.

• There will be lots of proofs.

  • Some of which you will be writing yourself.

• The “trick” is to keep the meaning of the mathematics in mind at all time.

2 Course Website

Quick Tour of the Course Website

• Start at the Canvas site

  • Hosts announcements, calendars, tests, forums

• Most of the content is on a CS Dept server

  • Lecture notes, sample problems, links to resources
  • This material remains accessible after the end of the semester

The Outline Page

The Outline page (“Modules” in Canvas) is the “heart” of the course.

Each module lasts 1 to 1.5 weeks and contains:

• Lecture notes & sample problems
• Assigned reading from the text book
• Self-assessments (ungraded activities)
• Quizzes & Exams

A Typical Module

A typical module of this course will combine some of all of the following:

1. Reading from the textbook
   • The main conceptual content of the course
2. Brief commentary from me on the textbook material
3. Sample problems
   • I will work a series of sample problems, showing my solution and discussing how I arrived at it.
   • You are encouraged to try and work these yourself before moving on to my solution.
4. Self-Assessments (on Canvas)
   • Ungraded problems for you to work, with solutions.

     Solutions will be provided.

5. Quiz (on Canvas)

   • Due at the end of the time period allotted for that module.

3 Course Policies

3.2.1 Due Dates

• Quizzes are due at the end of each module.

  • Late submissions will generally not be accepted.

4 Keys to Success

Pace Yourself

• Modules are typically scheduled to run 1 to 1.5 weeks each.

• Plan on

  • reading and studying for the first third of the allocated time,
  • working the sample problems and self-assessments in the middle third, and
  • working on the quiz for the remainder.

• Don’t skip the self-assessments, and don’t leave them until the day that the quiz is due.

4.1 Where to Go from Here?