Summary: Computer Science 254
Instructor: Professor R. Alperin, Duncan Hall 239, Telephone: 924-5066,
Office hours: 2:45-4:00 M, 11:00-12:15 W, 6:45-8:00 MW or by appointment,
Text: Introduction to the Theory of Computation by Michael Sipser, PWS
Course: Theory of Computation
The prerequisite is CS 154 with a grade of B or better.
The main goal of this class is to introduce students to the theoretical
foundations of computer science, specifically the Chomsky hierarchy of formal
languages, Turing machines, the Church-Turing thesis, and the various com-
plexity classes. We shall discuss the relations between P and NP. A project
report describing (with proofs) an NP-complete problem will be assigned.
Your final grade is based on a point total on tests (50%), homework
(25%) and your written/oral project report (25%). Students must prepare a
notebook of homework assignments which will be collected regularly.
ĚChapter 1: Regular Languages (review) (1)
ĚChapter 2: Context-Free Languages (review) (1)