CS 70. Discrete Mathematics and Probability Theory
Catalog Description: Logic, infinity, and induction; applications include undecidability and stable marriage problem. Modular arithmetic and GCDs; applications include primality testing and cryptography. Polynomials; examples include error correcting codes and interpolation. Probability including sample spaces, independence, random variables, law of large numbers; examples include load balancing, existence arguments, Bayesian inference.
Units: 4
Prerequisites: Sophomore mathematical maturity, and programming experience equivalent to that gained with a score of 3 or above on the Advanced Placement Computer Science A exam.
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Computer Science 70 after taking Mathematics 55.
Formats:
Summer: 6.0 hours of lecture and 4.0 hours of discussion per week
Spring: 3.0 hours of lecture and 2.0 hours of discussion per week
Fall: 3.0 hours of lecture and 2.0 hours of discussion per week
Grading basis: letter
Final exam status: Written final exam conducted during the scheduled final exam period
Class Schedule (Spring 2024):
CS 70 – TuTh 15:30-16:59, Dwinelle 155 –
Alistair J Sinclair, Sanjit A Seshia
Class Schedule (Fall 2024):
CS 70 – TuTh 17:00-18:29, Pimentel 1 –
Joshua A Hug, Satish B Rao
Department Notes:
Course objectives: The goal of this course is to introduce students to ideas and techniques from discrete mathematics that are widely used in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences. The course aims to present these ideas "in action"; each one will be geared towards a specific significant application. Thus, students will see the purpose of the techniques at the same time as learning about them.
Topics covered:
- Propositions and Proofs
- Mathematical Induction: recursion, the stable marriage problem
- Arithmetic Algorithms: gcd, simple finite fields, primality testing, the RSA cryptosystem
- Polynomials and their Applications: error-correcting codes, secret sharing
- Probability and Probabilistic Algorithms: laws of large numbers, load balancing, probabilistic constructions, conditional probability, Bayesian inference, intro to continuous probability
- Diagonalization, Self-Reference and Uncomputability
Related Areas: