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CM20217: Foundations of computation

[Page last updated: 02 August 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Computer Science
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CW 25%, EX 75%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 25%)
  • Exam (EX 75%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: Before taking this module you must ( take CM10196 OR take CM10311 OR take MA10209 ) AND ( take CM10227 OR take XX10190 OR take MA10265 OR take MA10275 OR take MA10276 )
Learning Outcomes: On completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental models of computation and the corresponding classes of formal grammars and languages;
2. design algorithms for specific computational problems as automata of appropriate types;
3. prove mathematically that some computational problems are undecidable within a particular class of computational models;
4. be able to give upper bounds on complexities of some decidable computational problems.

Aims: To introduce formal models of computation: finite automata, pushdown automata, Turing machines, and the corresponding classes of formal languages: regular, context-free, semi-decidable. To teach students to design algorithms for concrete computational problems within these models of computation. To introduce the dichotomy between deterministic and non-deterministic computation.
To give students an appreciation of limits of computation, including methods of proving undecidability and specific examples of undecidable problems. To introduce the concept of computational complexity and complexity classes.

Skills: Use of IT (A), Application of Number (T/F, A), Problem Solving (T/F, A).

Content: 1. Deterministic and non-deterministic finite automata.
2. Regular languages. Existence of non-regular languages.
3. Pushdown automata and context-free grammars and languages. Parsing in context-free languages.
4. Existence of non-context-free languages via Pumping Lemma.
5. Turing machines and Church-Turing Thesis.
6. Universal Turing machine and undecidability of the halting problem.
7. Non-deterministic Turing machines, complexity classes P and NP.

Programme availability:

CM20217 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Computer Science
  • USCM-AFB06 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science (Year 2)
  • USCM-AAB07 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USCM-AKB07 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • USCM-AFB27 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (Year 2)
  • USCM-AAB27 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USCM-AKB27 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • USCM-AFB20 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics (Year 2)
  • USCM-AAB20 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USCM-AKB20 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • USCM-AFM01 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science (Year 2)
  • USCM-AAM02 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USCM-AKM02 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • USCM-AFM27 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (Year 2)
  • USCM-AAM27 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USCM-AKM27 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • USCM-AFM14 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics (Year 2)
  • USCM-AAM14 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USCM-AKM14 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics with Year long work placement (Year 2)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.