CMSC250-0301,0302,0303: Discrete Structures-Fall 2014 tomr55

Course Overview

We will focus on the fundamental mathematical structures and logical principles that are relevant to Computer Science. In this course students will be encouraged to develop an appreciation for how modern mathematics provides a sound foundation upon which to build a rich and robust understanding of the elements of computing. In addition to textbook problem-sets, students may possibly encounter many mathematical and logical principles through short, focused programming activities.

Required text and other instructional materials

Textbook(s) and websites
Course Textbook

Discrete Mathematics and its Applications, 7th Edition

Author: Kenneth H. Rosen

Publisher: McGraw-Hill

ISBN: 978-0-07-338309-5

Piazza piazza.com/university_of_maryland_college_park/fall2014/250/home
Class Web Page http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/fall2014/cmsc250-0101/

 

Course Topics

This course provides students with an introduction to essential elements of mathematics for computing: formal logic, sets, relations and functions, elementary theorem-proving methods, with an emphasis on induction, combinatorics, and, time-permitting, an introduction to graph theory. Topics discussed include, but are not limited to (in approximate order):

  • Logic: The elements of formal logic, including propositional and quantificational forms.
  • Circuits and Binary arithmetic: How logic enables the design of circuits and some binary arithmetic.
  • Basics from Number Theory: Students are introduced to the elements of number theory that are relevant to undergraduate-level computer science, such as divisibility, prime factorization, direct and indirect proof techniques, and proof by induction.
  • Summations, recurrences and mathematical induction: Special emphasis is placed on proof by induction as this forms the backbone for continuing study in theoretical and applied computer science.
  • Combinatorics and Counting: Sum and product rules, permutations and combinations, with and without replacement, the pigeonhole principle, and an introduction to probability.
  • Sets: Arguably, sets provide the structural basis for modern mathematics. Students apply logic in order to construct basic proofs over finite and infinite sets.
  • Functions and their properties: Students are given a brief introduction to the modern perspective on functions as mathematical objects with an emphasis on cancellation properties and binary relations.
  • Graph Theory: An introduction to binary relations and graphs commonly encountered in computer science--typically in the study of data-structures, games of chance, and map traversal.

Instructor & TA Information

Contact Information 
Sections 0101, 0102, 0103 Sections 0301,0302, 0303

Clyde Kruskal

3125 AV Williams, 405-2683

kruskal@cs.umd.edu

Office Hours:M 1-3pm

Tom Reinhardt

3239 AV Williams, 405-2773

tomr55@cs.umd.edu

Office Hours: T-TR: 9:00-10:30am

Teaching Assistants

 

Teaching Assistants: Office Hours & Locations
Name Email (contact) Office Hours Room
Karthik Abinav Sankaraman karthikabinavs@gmail.com M: 10am-Noon; W: 10-11am AVW 1112
Vikas Shivashankar svikas@cs.umd.edu M: 1:30 - 3:30pm; W: 1 - 2pm AVW 1112
Hossein Esfandiari esfandiari.hossein@gmail.com F: 2-5pm AVW 1112
Huijing Gong generalsarah@gmail.com F: 2-5pm AVW 1112
Ladan Najafizadeh ladan.n@gmail.com M: 12-1pm; W: 12-1pm; Th: 3:30-4:30pm AVW 1112
Yi Qian yiqian@cs.umd.edu Tu: 1:30-3:30pm; W: 10-11am AVW 1112
Peter Sutor psutor@umd.edu M: 1pm-3pm; T: 11:30am-12:30pm AVW 1112
Zheng Xu zuzh@cs.umd.edu Tu: 3:30-5:30pm; Th: 3:30-4:30pm AVW 1112

 

 

 

 Teaching Times/Locations by Section
Section Teaching Assistant Days: Times Room (CSIC)
0101 Ladan MW: 10-10:50am 3120
0102 Ladan MW: 11-11:50am 3120
0103 Peter MW: 12-12:50pm 3120
0201 Yi MW: 2-2:50pm 3120
0202 Vikas MW: 10-10:50am 1121
0203 Vikas MW: 11-11:50am 1121
0204 Karthik MW: 9-9:50am 2117
0301 Huijing MW: 9-9:50am 3120
0302 Huijing MW: 8-8:50am 3120
0303 Yi MW: 1-1:50pm 3120


Additional Tutorial Services provided by the University

In addition to your Instructional staff, the University's Academic Achievement Program (AAP) provides tutors for this course through the Academic Success and Tutorial Services (ASTS). Interested students are encouraged to visit their website or contact their offices at 301.405.4736.

Grading

Your grade is determined by your performance on weekly quizzes, homework assignments, two midterms, and one comprehensive final exam. 

Weighting

Approximate Grade Weights, by category
Homework Assigned weekly 1% each
Quizzes Weekly, in Discussion Sections 1% each
Midterms (2) Two Mid Terms 24% each
Final Will be comprehensive 30%

Scheduling

Quizzes are given during the first ten to twenty minutes of Discussion session on Mondays. Midterms are given in regular lecture, and the Final is given per University schedule:

Midterm #1 23 October Thursday (In Lecture) Given in class
Midterm #2 20 November Thursday (In Lecture) Given in class
Final Wednesday 17 December 2014: 4-6pm To be determined

Appeals

Students who feel that an item on the midterm or final exam has been graded incorrectly may appeal that grade by providing a written appeal to the Instructor within one week of the return of the exam.

Students appealing any grade should bear in mind that if, upon re-examination and reconsideration, it is determined that the student's solution offered as an appeal merited fewer points than the original response, then the Instructor may adjust the student's grade accordingly: in order words, your grade may be negatively impacted by a poor appeal

General Classroom Policies

Quizzes are given every Monday in Recitation. In order to receive credit, you must complete your quiz during your own Discussion Section time.

Homework will be posted by Tuesday evening and will be collected on the following Wednesday (the collection/due dates are posted on the Homework assignments). Homework will be collected at the beginning of your recitation. If you are late to Recitation without a valid excuse (outlined in the next section) you will receive a zero on that particular Homework assignment.

Homework assignments are only accepted in person, in-class. Homework assignments must be written legibly, with the answers clearly labeled, and in sequential order as assigned. You must put your name, the name of your TA, and the time of your Recitation Section in the upper right-hand corner of your Homework assignment. If appropriate, staple all pages together, and make sure that your name appears on each sheet of paper.

You may discuss Homework with other students; however, you must write up the solutions yourself.

 Use of electronic devices in Lecture

We require that students refrain from using electronic devices during lecture owing to the nature of this content. Students who use portable electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets, etc., to take class notes should know that Instructors reserve the right to ask these students to show their notes to the Instructor. 

Naturally, students with appropriate accommodations may use whatever devices and/or methods provided by their accommodations.

Use of slides, worksheets, and other instructional materials

Considerable efforts has gone into the design and creation of slides (and other instructional materials) for this course. Students should not substitute these materials (such as viewing slides) for attending all class and recitation sessions.

Students with Accommodations

Students who have been certified by Disability Support Services as needing accommodations should see their Instructor within the first two weeks of the term.

All arrangements for exam accommodations as a result of a disability must be made with the student''s Instructor at least three (3) business days prior to the Exam date or the accommodation cannot be made. 

Students should not depend upon email sent to Instructor(s) the day of an exam.  

Students are responsible for getting the paperwork to and from their Instructors to the testing center.

Excused Absences

Reasons for missing course work, such as illness, religious observances, participation in University activities, or family and/or personal emergencies (such as a serious automobile accident or a close relative's funeral) will be considered to justify an excused absence.

Students requesting excused absences for any reason must apply in writing as soon as possible and must furnish documentary support that the absence qualifies as excused.

Illness

Absences due to medical reasons must be supported with documentation from the healthcare professional who provided treatment. This documentation should clarify that you were incapacitated or in some way incapable of undertaking academic work. The documentation must also provides the dates of your incapacity. Finally, documentation should contain a telephone number and the dates of your visit. 

Note: we will not ask you or your healthcare provider to provide any medical details of your condition. We are only interested in the dates you were affected and the nature of your incapacity.

 General Provisions

Per University policy, students are permitted to provide their own written excuse for one absence per semester, providing that absence does not occur on the day of an examination.

In the general case, excused absences are granted pending documentation, as described above.

Excused absences will not be provided after the fact. 

Excused absences will not be granted after performing coursework. For example: you cannot take an exam and then claim to have been ill.

Students who might miss exams for any reason than those outlined above must contact their Instructor in advance to discuss their particular circumstances.

Bear in mind that Instructors are not obliged to offer a substitute assignment or provide a make-up assignment unless the failure to perform was due to an excused absence (as provided, above).

In sum: students' responsibilities for make-up work is as follows:

  • Exams. A make-up exam will be given ASAP.
  • Homework. Students with excused absences will be given a short extension (such as an extra day); contact your Instructor as soon as possible to discuss appropriate arrangements.
  • Quizzes. After documenting the excused absence with their Instructor, the teaching TA will be informed, and the student will arrange with their teaching TA to take the make-up quiz as soon as possible.

Religious observances

It is the University's policy to provide accommodations for students with religious observances that conflict with coursework. It is, however, the student's responsibility to provide Instructors with written notification in advance of anticipated absences.

Academic Integrity

You are permitted to discuss what the homework problems are asking with your classmates, but your solutions must strictly be your own (although these may incorporate content from Instructional staff).

Any evidence of inappropriate cooperation on homework assignments, quizzes, or exams, or the use of unauthorized materials while taking a quiz on an exam, or other potential violations of the Honor Code may be submitted to the Student Honor Council, which could result in an XF for the course, suspension, or expulsion from the University.

If you have any questions whether a particular situation would violate any of the provisions of the Academic Integrity Code, talk with your Instructors in advance. 

Should you have difficulty with the coursework, you should see the Teaching Assistants during their Office Hours. Do not solicit help from anyone else in violation of the Academic Integrity Code. Remember:

It is the responsibility, under the Honor Policy, of anyone who suspects that an incident of academic dishonesty has occurred to report it to their Instructor, or directly to the Honor Council.

Evaluation Process

Your participation in the evaluation of courses through CourseEvalUM is a responsibility you hold as a student member of our academic community.  Your feedback is confidential and important to the improvement of teaching and learning at the University as well as to the tenure and promotion process.  CourseEvalUM will be open for you to complete your evaluations starting about two weeks prior to the last day of the term before exams begin.  Please go directly to the website (www.courseevalum.umd.edu) to complete your evaluations.  By completing all of your evaluations each semester, you will have the privilege of accessing online evaluation reports for the thousands of courses for which 70% or more students submitted their evaluations.  You can access results at www.CourseEvalUM.umd.edu, the same link you use to submit your evaluations.  Click View Past Results instead.

 

Use the CourseEvalUM URL and choose Take Evaluations to discover upcoming evaluation dates:  www.CourseEvalUM.umd.edu

Right to change information

Although every effort has been made to be complete and accurate, Instructors reserve the right to change this syllabus or other course materials as circumstances might dictate.

Copyright

All course materials are copyright of the Instructors 2013. All rights reserved. Students are permitted to use course materials for their own use only. Course materials may not be distributed publicly or provided to others (excepting other students in the course) in any manner or format.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due