George Mason University
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
CS330 - Formal Methods and Models - Fall 2023
Section 1 MW 9:00-10:15 AB2003
Section 2 TR 1:30 -2:45 IN105
Prerequisites | Description | Readings | Syllabus | Grading | Late | TA | Dates
This page last updated on 8/15/2023
703-993-1545
richards@gmu.edu
(Please prefix the subject of your email with CS330.)
Course office hours: MT 4:00-5:00 or by appt.
Engineering Bldg 5320
PREREQUISITES :
CS211 and Math 125 (C or better in both).
DESCRIPTION :
This course is an introduction to two kinds of formal systems - languages and logics - with important applications to computer science. The study of formal languages underlies important aspects of compilers and other language processing systems, as well as the theory of computation. Various systems of logic and automatic reasoning are put to use in artificial intelligence, database theory and software engineering. The entire course will give you practice in precise thinking and proof methods that play a role in the analysis of algorithms. The programming assignments provide practical experience with some theoretical topics.
OUTCOMES :
Will understand the concepts and relevance of logic, formal languages and automata theory, and computability .
Will be able to able to do mechanical formal proofs, program correctness proofs and solve problems in first-order logic.
Will be able to solve problems in elementary machine models: designing finite-state, pushdown and Turing machines.
Will be able to solve problems in formal languages: writing regular expressions, regular grammars, and context-free grammars.
READINGS:
SYLLABUS:
The pace is approximate. Later chapters will not be covered as completely.
A summer class (16 of them plus a midterm) is nearly a week in the normal semester (14).
Topic Week Part/Chapters
Introduction 1 1
Propositional Logic and Proofs 1-2 2-3
Predicate Logic and Proofs 3-4 4-5
Applications: Prolog and Verification 5-6 6-A
Exam #1 7
Finite Automata, Regular Expressions 7-9 7-9
AWK: Regular Expression Application 10 B
Context-Free Grammars & PDAs 11-12 10-11
Turing Machines & Computability 13-14 12
GRADING :
Quizzes -- 30%
Exams -- 70%
The two exams, including the final, each cover about a half of the semester; the final is not cumulative.
Of these exams the highest score will count 40%, and the lowest 30%.
Exam1 is October 11 or October 12 and Exam 2 is December 11 or December 12
Homework is ungraded.
Quizzes will test homework
The lowest quiz grades will be dropped.
All testing is closed book, but limited notes are permitted, as follows for exams (but not for quizzes). One sheet of notes (8.5 by 11 inches, 1 side only). NO COPYING is allowed. That means no photocopying of anything, even the textbook, though you may write out material from it verbatim. It also means no copying of anyone else's notes, even by hand. You may use a computer for editing your own notes. The sheet must be turned in with your exam. Violations of these rules for creating the notes is considered a violation of the Honor Code.
It is a departmental requirement that students in CS330 must see their advisor and discuss their degree progress. Students not fulfilling this requirement will receive an Incomplete grade. (Non-majors and graduate students are not included.) The visit must be documented by a signed note or email from your advisor.
NO LAPTOPS, ETC. (If you NEED a laptop for note-taking then speak to me.)
TA: TBA
I DO NOT USE PIAZZA.