Description:

Introduces the abstract notions of machine computation for honors students. Includes finite automata, regular expressions, and formal languages, with emphasis on regular and context-free grammars. Explores what can and cannot be computed by considering various models of computation including Turing machines, recursive functions, and universal machines.

Course Outcome:

• 1. An ability to define and use abstract models of computation such as finite and push-down automata, and analyze their relative expressive power.

  2. An ability to define, use, and convert between abstract machine models and formal languages.

  3. An ability to apply abstract models of computation to analyze the power and inherent limitations of algorithms.

Tentative Lesson Plan (Sipser's book):

• Finite automata, non-determinism, regular languages, pumping lemma. [Chap. 0--1] (Week 1-4)

• Context-free languages, grammars, pushdown automata [Chap. 2] (Week 5-6)

• Turing machines, decidability, reductions, computability [Chap. 3--5] (Week 7-12)

• Complexity theory, NP Completeness [Chap. 7] (Week 13- 16)

CSE150 or CSE215; AMS 210 or MAT 211; Computer Science Honors Program or Honors College or the WISE Honors program or University Scholar.

• Introduction to the Theory of Computation, 3rd edition, by Michael Sipser 

• John Watrous lecture notes on Introduction to the Theory of Computing (https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/~watrous/ToC-notes/)

The grading will be based on the following criteria: 

Midterm Exam: 40% 

Final Exam: 50% 

Scribe: 10% 

Surprise class test: Bonus 10% 

• Grading: Students will have one week to review their graded answer sheets after scores are released. After this week, the scores will be final.

• Exams: Exams are open book and open notes, but electronic notes or resources are not permitted. Make-up exams or assignments will not be provided, except when required by university regulations.

• Homework: Homework assignments must be completed in LaTeX and submitted on time. Students are responsible for learning LaTeX on their own. Late submissions will not be accepted. Submission of assignment is via email (to supartha@cs.stonybrook.edu). The subject line must start with [CSE350 Homework].  

• Academic integrity: Students must complete their work independently. Offering or accepting solutions from others is plagiarism, which is a serious offense. All parties involved in academic dishonesty will be penalized according to the Academic Integrity Policy.

Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty is required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. Faculty in the Health Sciences Center (School of Health Technology & Management, Nursing, Social Welfare, Dental Medicine) and School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty please refer to the academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/academic_integrity/index.html

• Student Accessibility Support Center Statement: If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact the Student Accessibility Support Center, Stony Brook Union Suite 107, (631) 632-6748, or at sasc@stonybrook.edu. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.

• Critical Incident Management: Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of University Community Standards any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn. Faculty in the HSC Schools and the School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. Further information about most academic matters can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin, the Undergraduate Class Schedule, and the Faculty-Employee Handbook.