Fall 2021: Formal Methods and Models [CS330]

Professor: Carlotta Domeniconi, carlotta\AT\cs.gmu.edu. Office hours: TR 1:30PM - 2:30PM.
GTAs: Bahman Pedrood, bpedrood\AT\masonlive.gmu.edu; Office hours: M 4PM - 6PM (online). Priya Mani, pmani\AT\masonlive.gmu.edu; Office hours: W 3PM - 4PM (online).
UTA: Ha Phuong Le. Office hours: TBD.
Prerequisites: CS211 and Math125 (C or better in both).
Exposure to Discrete Mathematics (as in MATH125) is important for success in this course.
Location and Time: TR noon - 1:15PM, Exploratory Hall L004
Textbook: H. Hamburger and D. Richards, Logic and Language Models for Computer Science, Third Edition, 2017.
Link to Class Webpage and Schedule of Classes

General Description and Preliminary List of Topics

This course is an introduction to two kinds of formal systems—languages and logics—that are crucial to large numbers of areas in computer science. The study of formal languages underlies important aspects of compilers and other language processing systems, software engineering, agents and multiagent systems, game development, robotics, and networking. Formal logics and automatic reasoning are put to use in artificial intelligence, database theory, and software engineering. The course gives students practice in precise thinking and proof methods that play a role in the analysis of algorithms.

Topics include: Propositional Logic and Proofs; Predicate Logic and Proofs; Program Verification; Finite Automata, Regular Expressions; Context-Free Grammars; Turing Machines and Solvability.

Outcomes

Students will understand the concepts and relevance of logic, formal languages and automata theory, and computability.
Students will be able to do mechanical formal proofs, program correctness proofs and solve problems in first-order logic.
Students will be able to solve problems in elementary machine models: designing finite-state, pushdown and turing machines.
Students will be able to solve problems in formal languages: writing regular expressions, regular grammars, and context-free grammars.

Grading

Quizzes: 20%
Assignments: 20%
Midterm + Final: 60% (highest score counts 35%; lowest score counts 25%)

We'll have weekly quizzes and assignments. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped. No make-up quizzes will be offered.
All graded work must be performed individually. No extensions will be granted for assignments as we will discuss the solutions in class. Group work is NOT allowed.
Any deviation from this policy will be considered a violation of the GMU Honor Code. The CS Department has specific CS Honor Code Policies.

In order to receive a passing grade in this class, each student will also discuss the plan of study with their academic advisor during the semester.
Here is the form:

Academic Year Check List

Communication

We use Piazza to communicate. Technical questions, and questions in general about the material discussed in class, should be posted on Piazza. Clarifying questions on assignments should also be posted on Piazza. Do NOT post your assignment solutions on Piazza. Do NOT use email for technical questions. Your questions are likely to be of interest to other students as well! Come see me or the GTAs during office hours to discuss in person. If you do send me an email, you are required to use your mason account to communicate with me. I mantain a course webpage with the Schedule of Classes. Assignments, grades, and course material are posted on Blackboard. Students turn-in homework assignments via GradeScope.

Lectures and Attendance

Regular attendance is highly recommended! Students are strongly recommended to attend lectures and actively participate with questions. Lectures are not recorded this semester.

Disabilities

If you have a documented learning disability or other condition which may affect academic performance, make sure this documentation is on file with the office of disability services and talk to me about accommodations.