Schedule

This schedule is tentative and subject to change.

Warmups are due every class day, even if they are not listed under the “Due” column.

Week 1

M
Sep. 11
Welcome!
We discuss the structure of the course and the role of mathematics in modern computation.
Learning Objectives
Getting Oriented
In Class
Welcome!
Due
Join EdStem and Gradescope.
W
Sep. 13
Mathematics and Me
We discuss our relationship to math and how we've learned what we've learned.
Learning Objectives
Getting Oriented
Prep
Math Autobiography
In Class
Mathematics and Me
F
Sep. 15
Lab 1: Technical Writing and Truth Tables
We review truth tables for describing logical operations and begin our first lab assignment in Google Colab.
Learning Objectives
Getting Oriented
Prep
Statements and Truth Tables
In Class
Lab 1: Technical Writing and Truth Tables

Week 2

M
Sep. 18
Working with Symbolic Logic
We introduce formal manipulations of logical expressions and work with the many ways to manipulate conditional statements.
Learning Objectives
Sets and Logic
Prep
Conditionals and Friends
In Class
Conditionals and Friends
W
Sep. 20
Sets and Set Operations
We introduce sets, set-builder notation, and operations for combining and measuring sets.
Learning Objectives
Sets and Logic
Prep
Sets
In Class
Sets
F
Sep. 22
Lab 2: Inclusion-Exclusion
We use the inclusion-exclusion formula and its generalizations to compute the cardinality of unions of sets. Along the way, we practice writing mathematical computations and performing computational experiments.
Learning Objectives
Sets and Logic
Prep
More on Sets
In Class
Lab 2: Inclusion-Exclusion
Due
Lab 1: Technical Writing and Truth Tables

Week 3

M
Sep. 25
Quantifiers and Predicate Logic
We discuss quantification of propositions over sets and how to apply logical operations to symbolic quantifiers.
Learning Objectives
Sets and Logic
Prep
Quantifiers and Predicate Logic
In Class
Quantifiers and Predicate Logic
W
Sep. 27
Further Topics: Logic and Sets
We introduce logical deduction and review topics from the course so far.
Learning Objectives
Sets and Logic
Proof
Prep
More on Quantifiers and Logic
In Class
TBD
F
Sep. 29
Quiz 1
The first of four quizzes in which students have an opportunity to complete Learning Targets. This quiz includes targets LS1, LS2, and LS3.
Due
Lab 2: Inclusion-Exclusion

Week 4

M
Oct. 02
Direct Proofs
We introduce direct proofs, our first general technique for proving statements about mathematics and algorithms.
Learning Objectives
Proof techniques
Prep
Direct Proofs
In Class
TBD
W
Oct. 04
Cases, Contradictions, and Counterexamples
We introduce several additional proof techniques, as well as the practice of counterexamples for disproving incorrect implications.
Learning Objectives
Proof techniques
Prep
Cases, Contradictions, and Counterexamples
F
Oct. 06
Lab 3: Proof Practice
Prep
TBD
In Class
Lab 3: Proof Practice

Week 5

M
Oct. 09
Induction
We introduce mathematical induction, a powerful proof technique for demonstrating that a claim is true for infinitely many cases.
Learning Objectives
Proof techniques
Prep
Introduction to Induction
W
Oct. 11
More Induction
We broaden our usage of induction to use strong induction and to write inductive proofs for the correctness of functions.
Learning Objectives
Proof techniques
Prep
More Induction
F
Oct. 13
No Class: Midterm Recess
Due
Lab 3: TBD

Week 6

M
Oct. 16
Relations
W
Oct. 18
Functions
F
Oct. 20
Quiz 2
Due
Lab 3: TBD

Week 7

M
Oct. 23
Counting
W
Oct. 25
Counting
F
Oct. 27
Lab 4: TBD
Due
Lab 3: TBD

Week 8

M
Oct. 30
Recursion
W
Nov. 01
Recursion
F
Nov. 03
Lab 5: TBD
Due
Lab 4: TBD

Week 9

M
Nov. 06
Asymptotics and Big-Oh
W
Nov. 08
Flex
F
Nov. 10
Quiz 3
Due
Lab 5: TBD

Week 10

M
Nov. 13
Graphs
W
Nov. 15
Graphs
F
Nov. 17
Lab 6: TBD

Week 11

M
Nov. 27
Probability
W
Nov. 29
Probability
F
Dec. 01
Lab 7: TBD
Due
Lab 6: TBD

Week 12

M
Dec. 04
Probability
W
Dec. 06
Probability
F
Dec. 08
Quiz 4
Due
Lab 7: TBD

Week 13

M
Dec. 11
Flex, Review
No matching items

Final Exam

Our final exam will be another quiz covering all twelve core Learning Targets. So, it’s just like Quiz 4, except you’ll have 3 hours instead of 50 minutes.



© Phil Chodrow, 2023