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.

• Common software development problems

  • What can and cannot be computed.

• Compiler design

• Programming language design

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 (“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 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?