COM1002 Foundations of Computer Science

2023-12-28 Admin 写评论

COM1002 Foundations of Computer Science

Summary The course consists of (around) 10 blocks of 2-3 weeks work each. Each block develops mathematical concepts and techniques that are of foundational importance to computing. Lectures and problem classes will be used. The intention is to enthuse about these topics, to demonstrate why they are important to us, to lay the foundations of their knowledge and prepare students for future computing courses. It is not expected that the course will cover ALL of the maths that is needed later, either in terms of depth or scope.
Session Academic Year 2023/24
Credits 20
Assessment

Blackboard quiz, formal exams.

Lecturer(s) Dr Maksim Zhukovskii, Dr Paul Watton, Dr Mark Stevenson & Mr Tahsinur Kahn
Resources
Aims The aims of this module are to:
  • introduce the fundamental mathematical concepts needed in the computer science degree.
  • enhance the students' confidence in mathematics.
  • stimulate the students' interest in mathematics for computing.
Learning Outcomes  By the end of this course the students should be able to:
  • Demonstrate how mathematical techniques can contribute to the analysis of problems within computer science;  
  • Apply techniques from mathematical logic and set theory to appropriate problems related to computer science;  
  • Apply a range of relevant mathematical techniques from fields such as number theory, linear algebra and probability theory to problems relevant to computer science. 
Content

Semester 1

  • Introduction: The role of mathematics in modelling computing systems
  • Propositional logic: Syntax and semantics, truth tables, translation of natural language sentences
  • Sets: Basic definitions and operations on sets, Russell's paradox
  • Boolean algebras and circuits: Axioms and proofs, relationship with sets and propositional logics, modelling hardware systems
  • Predicate logic: Syntax and semantics, predicates and quantifiers, translation of natural language sentences
  • Proof strategies: How to use natural deduction to prove mathematical theorems
  • Functions and Relations: Basic definition, operations on functions and relations, cardinality, Cantor's diagonal argument
  • Induction and Recursion: induction principles, definition and examples of recursive functions, proofs by induction

Semester 2

  • The Integers: Factors and Primes, Division, Euclid's Algorithm, Linear Diophantine Equations
  • Modular Arithmetic: Integers Modulo n, Solving Equations, Chinese Remainder Theorem, Fermat's Little Theorem, RSA Cryptography
  • Matrices and Systems of Linear Equations: Elementary Row Operations, General Solutions, Reduced Echelon Form, Vectors and Linear Transformations
  • Matrix Algebra: Matrix Multiplication, Inverses, Determinants Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors, Diagonalisation
  • Probability: Counting Elements of Sets, Permutations and Combinations, Probability Space, Conditional Probability
  • Variables and Processes: Random Variables, Difference Equations, Markov Processes, PageRank
Teaching Method Lectures and problems classes.
Feedback Feedback on tutorial exercises, assignments and during lectures.

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