MCS 441 Theory of Computation

Fall 2004

Instructor: David Marker
Call Number: 12360/20461
Class Meets: 10:00 MWF 307 AH
Office: 411 SEO
Office Hours: M 11-12, W 9-10, 4-5
phone: (312) 996-3069
e-mail: marker@math.uic.edu
course webpage: http://www.math.uic.edu/~marker/mcs441

Text

Michael Sipser, Introduction to the Theory of Computation, PWS Publication Co, 1996.

We will cover chapters 1--4 of the text.

Prerequisites

Grade of C or better in CS 202 or grade of C or better in MCS 261.

Description

The key questions in theoretical computer science are:

What can a computer do in principle?
What can a computer do efficiently?

This course will focus on the first question. We will introduces several, progressively stronger, models of computation:

finite automata
nondetermistic automata
pushdown automata
Turing machines

For each of these models we will examine what they can and can not do.

Problem Sets

There will be frequent homework assignments. This a theoretical course and it is expected that in addition to designing and analyzing machines students will be required to write proofs. Late homework will be accepted only in exceptional circumstances.

Grading

There will be one midterm exam. The midterm will count for 30% of your final grade. The midterm exam will be on Friday October 15.
The final exam will count for 50% of your final grade. The final exam will be Wed December 8 at 8:00 am
Homework will count for 20% of your final grade. The 2 lowest homework scores will be dropped.

Homework Assignments

Problem Set 1 (Due: Friday September 3): 1.2, 1.3, 1.4) d,e,i,j
Problem Set 2 (Due: Friday September 10): 1.5) a,b,c,d,e, 1.6) a, 1.7) a, 1.8) b
Problem Set 3 (Due: Friday September 17): 1.9, 1.12, 1.13
Problem Set 4 (Due: Friday September 24): 1.14, 1.16, 1.17 a,c
Problem Set 5 (Due: Friday October 1): 1.23, 1.24, 1.36
Problem Set 6 (Due: Friday October 8): 2.1, 2.3, 2.4
Problem Set 7 (Due: Friday October 22): 2.5 d),e),f); 2.6 give a context free grammar and/or a PDA for at least two of a,b,c,d; 2.10, 2.11, 2.18 a), b)
Problem Set 8 (Due: Friday October 29): 2.13, 3.1,3.2
Problem Set 9 (Due: Friday November 5): 3.5, 3.8;
Problem Set 10 (Due: Friday Novemeber 12)
Problem Set 11 (Due: Friday November 19): 3.6, 3.7, 3.15c), 3.16, 3.19,
Problem Set 12 (Due: Wednesday December 1)