2024-2025 / INFO0016-1

Introduction to the theory of computation

Duration

26h Th, 26h Pr

Number of credits

 Master MSc. in Computer Science, professional focus in computer systems security5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Computer Science, professional focus in computer systems security (double diplômation avec HEC)5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Data Science, professional focus5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Data Science and Engineering, professional focus5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Computer Science and Engineering, professional focus in management5 crédits 
 Master Msc. in computer science and engineering, professional focus in intelligent systems5 crédits 
 Master Msc. in computer science and engineering, professional focus in intelligent systems (double diplômation avec HEC)5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Computer Science, professional focus in management5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Computer Science and Engineering, professional focus in computer systems and networks5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Computer Science and Engineering, professional focus in computer systems and networks (double diplômation avec HEC)5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Computer Science, professional focus in intelligent systems5 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Computer Science, professional focus in intelligent systems (double diplômation avec HEC)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Quentin Louveaux

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Introduction to the concept of effective procedure. Countable and uncountable sets. Finite automata and pushdown automata. Formal grammars and their relation to automata. Turing machines and the Church-Turing thesis. Theory of recursive functions. Problems unsolvable by an effective procedure. Introduction to NP-completeness and complexity theory.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, the student will have a good knowledge of the theory pertaining to the limits of computer systems and will understand their meaning.

This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, I.3, II.1, III.1, III.2 of the MSc in data science and engineering.


This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, III.1, III.2 of the MSc in computer science and engineering.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Knowledge of programming

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

1st quadrimester - Lectures, problem sessions.
The lectures and problem sessions are given in English. The reference book is written in French, but similar textbooks written in English are available. The problem sessions are aimed at gaining familiarity with the concepts introduced in the lectures.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Face-to-face.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Other site(s) used for course materials
- dox (https://dox.uliege.be/index.php/s/GScGPUZj6Qc79EW)


Further information:

Recommended reference covering precisely the material taught in the course:

P. Wolper, Introduction à la calculabilité (3ième édition), Dunod, 2006.

Reference in English:

Michael Sipser, Introduction to the Theory of Computation, CENGAGE Learning Custom Publishing, 2012

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )


Additional information:

Written exam including both theory and exercise questions (no oral exam).

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

All documents are available through the repository:

https://dox.uliege.be/index.php/s/GScGPUZj6Qc79EW

This repository contains all slides, all annotated slides, the exercises, the previous exams.
 

Contacts

Quentin Louveaux
q.louveaux@uliege.be
04/366 27 89

Association of one or more MOOCs