CS 173 - Discrete Structures

Spring 2024

TitleRubricSectionCRNTypeHoursTimesDaysLocationInstructor
Discrete StructuresCS173AL139311LEC30930 - 1045 T R  3039 Campus Instructional Facility Benjamin Cosman
Discrete StructuresCS173AL261102LEC30930 - 1045 T R  3039 Campus Instructional Facility Benjamin Cosman
Discrete StructuresCS173AL331187LEC31230 - 1345 T R  3039 Campus Instructional Facility Benjamin Cosman
Discrete StructuresCS173AL448263LEC31230 - 1345 T R  3039 Campus Instructional Facility Benjamin Cosman
Discrete StructuresCS173BL150094LEC31400 - 1515 T R  3039 Campus Instructional Facility Naina Balepur
Benjamin Cosman
Payam Delgosha
Discrete StructuresCS173BL250093LEC31400 - 1515 T R  3039 Campus Instructional Facility Naina Balepur
Benjamin Cosman
Payam Delgosha

Official Description

Discrete mathematical structures frequently encountered in the study of Computer Science. Sets, propositions, Boolean algebra, induction, recursion, relations, functions, and graphs. Course Information: Credit is not given for both CS 173 and MATH 213. Prerequisite: One of CS 124, CS 125, ECE 220; one of MATH 220, MATH 221.

Subject Area

  • Theory / Math

Text(s)

Varies

Learning Goals

Predicate logic: determine the truth of statements, perform simple transformations (esp. negation), accurately apply formal definitions (esp. vacuous truth cases, attention to variable types and scope) (6)
Write literate proofs using straightforward application of standard outlines (direct, contrapositive, contradiction, upper/lower bounds). (3)
Write inductive proofs, including proofs on trees (3), (6)
State and apply basic definitions, facts, and notation for commonly used discrete math constructs (3)
Derive big-O running time for simple pseudocode examples, especially recursive examples. Includes finding closed-forms for recursively-defined formulas using unrolling and recursion trees (6)
Classify examples the complexity of very simple examples in terms of countable versus uncountable, polynomial versus exponential, decidable versus undecidable (6)

Topic List

logic and proofs
number theory
sets and collections of sets
relations
functions
graphs
Induction and recursive definition
trees
big-O, algorithms, NP
state diagrams
countability

Assessment and Revisions

Revisions in last 6 years Approximately when revision was done Reason for revision
New Textbook Spring 11-Spring 2013 Integrate logic and proof learning throughout term, relate math to applications, modernize
On-line activities Fall 2011-Spring 2013 (on-going) Move simple material out of lectures, aid learning with drill, help students prepare for lectures and be more engaged,
On-line homework submission with rubric grading Fall 2012-Spring 2013 Simplify submission process, encourage quality writing product, enable research into automated feedback

Required, Elective, or Selected Elective

Required

Last updated

2/3/2019by Margaret M. Fleck