CIS 361: Models of Computation
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Instructor
Li Shen
Office: Dion 307A
Phone: (508) 910-6691
Email: lshen@umassd.edu
Office Hours: Tue 3:30-5pm, Thu 3:30-5pm, Fri 12-1pm (or by appointment)
TA
Lectures
Tue and Thu, 9:30-10:45pm, Dion 101
Prerequisites
CIS 181: Object-Oriented Programming II, with a grade C or higher
MTH 182: Discrete Structures II, with a passing grade
Note: To take this course, you must meet the prerequisite requirements
Course Objectives
- To study models of computations: finite automata, pushdown automata, and Turing machines.
- To study relationship between formal languages in Chomsky's hierarchy and different machines.
- To study computability theory:Turing machines, decidability and reducibility.
Course Description
Models of sequential, parallel, and distributed computations. The Chomsky hierarchy of formal languages and their accepting machines are studied in detail. The relationship of these languages and machines to computer programs is presented. Influence of a Turing machine and related formalisms on modern computing are studied. Decidability of decision problems is explained.
Course Materials
Homework
- Homework assignments will be posted online. Homework is due at the beginning of class on the announced due date. Any exceptions must be approved by the instructor in advance. Late homework will not be accepted.
- Some of the exercises will be routine, but others will be more challenging. I hope that you will benefit from working on the more difficult ones.
- I encourage discussion of homework assignments between students. However, your submitted homework must be entirely your own. You may not copy anything directly from another student's work. You should note with whom you discussed the problem at the beginning of your solution write-up. Note that discussion between two students will be most useful when both students have already made serious attempts to solve the problem on their own.
Requirements and Grading
Due to the nature of the course and the frequency of assignments, attendance is mandatory. You are responsible for all announcements and for all material presented in the lecture sessions. Come prepared for class and read the assigned material in advance of lectures. After the lecture, re-read the material.
Your numerical scores will be based upon the following contributions:
- Homeworks: 35%
- Quizzes: 10%
- Midterm exam: 20%
- Final exam: 30%
- Class attendance: 5%
The letter grades will be assigned using the following approximate scale: (A+,A,A-)[100-90], (B+, B, B-)[90-80], (C+,C,C-)[80-70], (D+,D,D-)[70-60], and F[60-0].
Important Dates
- 10/25/05: Midterm exam
- 12/20/05: Final exam
Academic Honesty
- The UMass Dartmouth Academic Ethical Standards and Student Judicial Code apply to your conduct in this course. Please refer to the following materials for details.
- All work submitted for credit must be your own. You may, however, discuss your homework assignments and term project with your classmates and Professor Shen.
- You should writeup your own solutions and neither read nor copy another person's solution or portions of their solution - this includes solutions from any web page (other than our class web page) that you find on the web.
- You cannot collaborate or copy in any way on exams.
- If you have any questions as to whether some action would be acceptable under the Academic Ethical Standards, please speak to me, and I will be glad to help clarify things. It is always easier to ask beforehand than to have trouble later!
Disability Statement
If you have a disability and feel you will need accommodation in order to complete course requirements, please contact Office of Disabled Student Services, Group I, Lower Level.