CIS 560: Theoretical Computer Science, Fall 2026

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Lectures (tentative schedule - last updated 08/31/2026)

Week Lecture Date Topic Reading Homeworks etc.
1 1

09/03

Introduction; Mathematics background Chap. 0.1-0.4, pp. 203 Further reading: pp. 203-204.
2 2 09/08 Finite automaton, computation of DFA; Design of DFA; Regular langusages; Regular operations

Chap. 1.1

09/11: Wait List Ends
09/14: Add, Drop, and Audit Deadline

3 09/10
3 4 09/15 Closure properties of regular languages; Nondeterminism, design of NFA, proof of closure properties; Regular expressions

Chap. 1.2-1.3

09/17: Homework #1 (???)
Java Regular Expression Examples
5 09/17
4 6 09/22 Conversion between regular expression and NFA; Applications of finite automata; Nonregular languages; Pumping lemma & examples Chap. 1.4

09/24: Handout (GNFA->Reg. Exp.)
09/24: Homework #1 Due (???)

7 09/24
5 8 09/29 Pumping lemma & examples; Myhill-Nerode Theorem Handout; Chap. 2.1

09/29: InClassExercise
09/29: Homework #2
(???)
10/01: Handout (Myhill-Nerode Theorem)

9 10/01
6 10 10/06 Context-free grammars, Chomsky Normal Form (CNF); Pushdown automata (PDA); CYK algorithm Chap. 2.1-2.2

10/08: Pass/Fail Deadline
10/06: Homework #2 Due
(???)
10/08: Homework #3 (???)

11 10/08
7 -- 10/13

Follow Monday Class Schedule - No CIS 560 Class

CYK Handout
10/15: Handout (CYK algorithm)
12 10/15 Non-context-free languages; Pumping lemma for CFLs - in class exercise; Pumping lemma for CFLs - more examples Chap. 2.3


10/15: Homework #3 Due (???)

8 13 10/20 Quick review for midterm exam; Discussions on HW #2,3    
-- 10/22 Midterm exam (in class) Academic Calendar  
9 14 10/27

Closure properties for CFLs

Chap. 2.3 10/27: InClassExercise (???)
15 10/29

Closure properties for CFLs; The Church-Turing Thesis

Chap. 2.3  
10 16 11/03 Discussions on Midterm exam; Turing machines and examples; Configurations of Turing machine; Turing recognizable/decidable languages Chap. 3.1 11/02: Registration for Spring 2027 begins
11/05: Homework #4 (???)
17 11/05
11 18 11/10

Variants of Turing machines; Closure property of decidable languages

Chap. 3.2  
19 11/12 Chap. 3.3

11/12: Homework #4 Due (???)
11/13: Course Withdrawal Deadline

12 20 11/17 Closure property of Turing-recognizable languages; Minsky's Theorem (concept only); Church-Turing Thesis (revisit) Chap. 4.1; 4.2

 

11/17: Homework #5 (???)

21 11/19 Hilbert's tenth problem; Decidability: Decidable problems for regular languages; Decidable problems for context-free languages Chap. 5.1; 5.3  
13 22 11/24 The halting problem; Undecidable problems; Reducibility; Mapping reducibility; Chomsky hierarchy of formal languages Chap. 5.1; 5.3 11/24: Homework #5 Due (???)
11/25: Homework #6 (???)
-- 11/26

Thanksgiving recess No Classes

Chap. 5.1; 5.3  
14 23 12/01 Time complexity; The class P vs class NP

Chap. 7.1-7.4



24 12/03 Polynomial-time reducibility; NP-completeness
15 25 12/08 Reviews (comprehensive) Lecture Notes

12/09: Classes End
12/10: Study Day

-- 12/11 Final Exams Begin  

12/17: Final Exams End

16 -- 12/15 Final exam*: Monday, Dec. 14, 3:00pm-6:00pm, Dion 305   12/20: Final grades due

*: Please refer to final exam schedule at: http://www.umassd.edu/registrar/finalexams/


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