General Information

Meetings: MWF 9:05am–9:55am, Phillips Hall 203, map
Instructor: David Steurer, Upson Hall 4134, email
TAs:

Piazza: piazza.com/…/cs4810 (please make sure you are signed up, see piazza section)

Course Description

This undergraduate course provides a broad introduction to the mathematical foundations of computer science. We will examine basic computational models, especially Turing machines. The goal is to understand what problems can or cannot be solved in these models.

Course Material

Computational Complexity: A Modern Approach Introduction to Theory of Computation The textbook for the course is Introduction to Theory of Computation by Michael Sipser. (Any edition is fine.) This book covers most of the topics in the course. Further reading, especially for later topics: Computational Complexity: A Modern Approach by Sanjeev Arora and Boaz Barak. (For this book, drafts of all chapters are available here.)

Prerequisites

The formal course prerequisite is CS 2800 (Discrete Structures). To follow the course, you will need basic mathematical maturity (the ability to understand and develop mathematical proofs). If you haven’t taken CS 2800 before, please contact the instructor.

Grading

Grading is based on weekly homework, three in-class exams, and participation (in class, office hours, and piazza). Grading scheme (tentative):

Piazza

Participation is an important part of the course. Besides class and office hours, a good way to participate is to ask and answer questions on piazza about course material. Piazza is also the preferred way to contact the instructors about any course-related issues.

Homework

Homework is an important part of the course. We will have weekly homework assignments.

Typesetting

Your homework submissions need to be typeset (hand-drawn figures are OK). The idea is that you first develop your solutions on paper and then type up their final form in a concise way. See typesetting resources for a list of typesetting software and references.

Late Submissions

You have eight late days. Late submission are graded only if you use your late days (up to two per homework). If you are unable to submit your homework because of extenuating circumstances (medical or family emergency), contact the instructor beforehand.

Partial Credit

If you clearly indicate gaps in your homework solutions, you will get more partial credit. For example, if you write that you don’t know the solution of a problem, you will get 20% of the points, whereas you will not earn any points if you submit a solution that is completely wrong.

Collaboration

You can collaborate in (disjoint) groups of up to three students. You need to submit homework individually (written by yourself, in your own words). Your submission should acknowledge all members of your group. Resources beyond course material and group discussions are not admissible. However, if you do end up using other resources, you absolutely need to reference them (see academic integrity).

Topics

List of topics covered in this course (tentative):

Academic Integrity

From the code of academic integrity:

Absolute integrity is expected of every Cornell student in all academic undertakings. Integrity entails a firm adherence to a set of values, and the values most essential to an academic community are grounded on the concept of honesty with respect to the intellectual efforts of oneself and others. Academic integrity is expected not only in formal coursework situations, but in all University relationships and interactions connected to the educational process, including the use of University resources. […]

A Cornell student’s submission of work for academic credit indicates that the work is the student’s own. All outside assistance should be acknowledged, and the student’s academic position truthfully reported at all times. In addition, Cornell students have a right to expect academic integrity from each of their peers.