Course Goals

This course introduces the mathematical structures and methods that form the foundation of computer science. The material will be motivated by applications from computer science. Students will learn:

1. computers and computing: numbers, circuits, and logic
2. cryptography: integers and modular arithmetic
3. combinatorics: sets, counting, and probability
4. algorithmic analysis: searching and sorting
5. networks: graphs and trees
6. relations: properties and applications

The main prerequisite for this course is a firm knowledge of high-school algebra.

Though CS 2500, Fundamentals of Computer Science 1, is not a co-requisite for this course, we will refer to topics that are covered in that course.

Lectures

    Mon Wed Thu 4:35 PM - 5:40 PM, West Village H 110

If you miss a class, one recourse would be to get the notes from a classmate (arranging this in advance if possible), go over them, and then if necessary come to the course staff with questions.

Electronic devices (computers, phones, etc.) are permitted in class only if they do not disrupt the lecture or distract other students. Please do not play games, watch videos, or view images which might divert the attention of your classmates.

If you don't understand something, please ask questions. We love questions. One of the benefits of attending a university as opposed to reading a book is that you get to interact with people who can field your questions.

Office Hours

The course staff will hold office hours each week. See here for times and locations.

Textbook

The textbook is available online and in hardcopy. See here for more information.

Practice Exercises

Several sources of practice exercises are available to you.

• Textbook exercises appear at the end of each chapter. Solutions to selected exercises are at the end of the book.
  
  
• Online homeworks will be available each week via the CS 1800 On Line Homework System. See here for more information.
  
  
• Sample problems will be posted before each test and the final exam.

Although these exercises do not count toward your grade, you are encouraged to use them to structure your learning during the semester. Regularly completing these exercises will help to prepare you for the tests and final exam.

Grades

There will be three one-hour tests and a cumulative final exam. The final exam will consist of three parts, each covering the same material as one of the tests.

Test	Material covered	Exam
Test 1 (T1)	Chapters 1 to 5	Final exam, part 1 (F1)
Test 2 (T2)	Chapters 6 to 8	Final exam, part 2 (F2)
Test 3 (T3)	Chapters 9 to 14	Final exam, part 3 (F3)

Your grade will be computed as follows.

max(T1, F1)	331⁄3%
max(T2, F2)	331⁄3%
max(T3, F3)	331⁄3%

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