Syllabus: CMPSC 360

Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science

Fall 2020

Staff

Instructors

Dr. David Koslicki (pronounced:“cause-lick-eee”)

Office Hours: Monday 2:00-3:30 pm EST at:

https://psu.zoom.us/j/92072866872?pwd=Z2V2Y2xwZ21tODl4ZS9zM3JIdUo4QT09

Password: 027497

Dr. Mahfuza Farooque

Office Hours: Wednesday 11:00-1:00 pm EST at:

https://psu.zoom.us/j/91778105612?pwd=YUk1WmNMdjR0YzE4TG80Tmo5aHZ1QT09

Password: 478390

Teaching Assistants

Wei Wei          Office hours: Wednesdays 4-5pm EST at https://psu.zoom.us/j/9705846228 email: [email protected]

Harshit Passi    Office hours: Mondays 5-6pm EST at https://psu.zoom.us/j/92855021227 Fridays 5-6pm EST at https://psu.zoom.us/j/93392643967 email: [email protected]

Junde Li          Office hours: Thursdays 6-7pm EST at https://psu.zoom.us/j/714936658 email: [email protected]

Shiqing Chen   Office hours: Fridays noon-2pm EST at https://psu.zoom.us/j/99568136285 email: [email protected]

Learning Assistant

Matthew Sickler    Office hours: Mondays 1:30-3pm EST at https://psu.zoom.us/j/3182297640 email: [email protected]

Jevin Modi            Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 10-11am EST at: https://psu.zoom.us/j/95690319414 email: [email protected]

Lay Patel              Office hours: Tuesdays 6-8pm EST at https://psu.zoom.us/j/6227197049 email: [email protected]

Yao Xu                 Office hours: Fridays 9-10am EST at: https://psu.zoom.us/j/167805764?pwd=WVhYZWVCczJsem1UOStMaHQ5cWg5dz09 email: [email protected]

Michael Paluda      Office hours: Tuesdays noon-2pm EST at: https://psu.zoom.us/j/7319050061 email: [email protected]

Course Goals and objectives

This course introduces undergraduate students to discrete mathematics and the foundations for modern computer science. Beyond learning a set of tools and techniques, a major goal of this course is to train students in how to think logically and mathematically when approaching a problem to solve. Students will learn proof techniques using mathematical logic and see how this informs algorithm design. Students will also learn combinatorial analytical techniques (i.e. counting or enumerating objects) in order to solve computational problems or analyze algorithms. Finally, students will be exposed to discrete data structures: implementations of mathematical structures useful for designing algorithms.

      At the end of this course, a successful student will be able to:

      • Formulate common language propositions into symbolic logical statements and assess their truth values

      • Manipulate, simplify, restate, and relate symbolic logical statements

      • Describe and apply different proof techniques such as induction, proof by contradiction, arguing contrapositively, utilizing the pigeon-hole principle, etc.

      • Identify when different proof strategies are applicable to certain problems

      • Describe mathematical sets, set operations, and functions and relate these to discrete data structures

      • Utilize counting techniques (such as permutations, combinations, binomial coefficients and their associated identities) in order solve computational problems

      • Describe and apply core concepts in discrete probability and understand how these relate to the analysis of algorithms.

      • Utilize discrete data structures (like graphs and trees) to express and solve algorithmic and computational problems.

Prerequisites.   CMPSC 122 (concurrent)

Required textbook.   Kenneth H. Rosen. Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications. 8th edition, 2019. ISBN10: 125967651X, ISBN13: 9781259676512, McGraw Hill.

Supplementary textbooks

      • Richard Hammack. Book of Proof. http://www.people.vcu.edu/~rhammack/BookOfProof/

      • Daniel J. Velleman. How to Prove it: A Structured Approach, 2nd edition.

Class logistics

Lecture Schedule:

      CMPSC 360-001 (10678)    Tu, Th 9:05AM - 10:20AM    via Zoom (see Canvas)

      CMPSC 360-002 (11791)    Tu, Th 10:35AM - 11:50AM    via Zoom (see Canvas)

Course resources.   We will use Canvas and Gradescope. Class announcements, material, assignments, recitations notes, etc. will be posted on Canvas. Canvas is also the best option for asking questions concerning homework, exams or any other matter. All assignments will be submitted and graded on Canvas.

Contacting Staff.   Please contact course staff through Canvas. Using the “Discussion” feature of Canvas, you will be able to discuss homework problems and other topics with students on Canvas (staff will be able to see and reply to your posts). See the “Discussions” tab on Canvas for a few pinned discussion forums. You can also create your own discussion topics. Be careful about posting homework questions that give away parts of the answers (or the whole answer). To communicate directly and confidentially with course staff, please use the “Inbox” feature of Canvas.

Announcements.   All announcements will be posted to Canvas. You are responsible for staying up-to-date with announcements made on Canvas.

Attendance Policy.   Students are strongly encouraged to attend all the lectures and recitations. Recitation sections may cover important material not covered in lecture. Outside of your section, you should feel free to attend any of the staff office hours (not just your section TA’s office hours) and ask any of us for help.

Office Hours.   TA office hours are for homework and midterm related questions, as well as for other minor concerns. Prof. Koslicki’s and Prof. Farooque’s office hours are for major concerns or high-level questions about the course material. We will prioritize conceptual questions over homework questions in office hours.

Grading.   We will compute grades from a weighted average, as follows:

      • Quizzes: 20%

      • Homework: 20%

      • Midterm 1: 30%

      • Final exam: 30%

Re-grading policies.   Regrading request of exams should only be undertaken in extraordinary cases where you believe there has been a genuine error or misunderstanding. Regrading requests will only be considered for the midterm and the final, and considered only if a re-grade could result in a change in letter grade in the course.

      If you have questions about homework or quiz grading, please discuss with your TA, but please understand that Canvas provide no mechanism for re-grading of most question types.

This technical constraint motivates our generous dropping of 3 lowest quiz scores, and two lowest homework scores.

Getting help.   For questions concerning homework, Canvas will be your best resource. Your recitation TA will be the best point of contact for general course questions (including subject matter and logistics). Due to the enrollment count of this course, no guarantees can be made about timeliness of email responses to the instructors. Instructors will prioritize answering questions through Canvas. Otherwise, the most expedient way to contact the instructors is through their office hours.

Recitations

Attendance to recitations is highly encouraged as they provide an opportunity to work on problems in groups and/or with your TA’s. This should give you a much better grasp of the course material. The TA’s may also review or supplement some of the concepts from lectures. A handout with problems will be provided each week.

Quizzes.   In each recitation, a brief quiz will be administered by your TA. It will consist of roughly 4 or 5 short-answer or multiple-choice questions that will help you assess whether you are following the class material. Quizzes will account for 20% of your grade, and we will immediately drop the three with the smallest scores. No make up quizzes will be given.

Recitation Schedule:

      CMPSC 360-001R (11300)   Tu 1:35PM - 2:50PM   Harshit Passi   See Canvas

      CMPSC 360-002R (11301)   Tu 3:05PM - 4:20PM   Harshit Passi   See Canvas

      CMPSC 360-003R (11302)   Tu 4:35PM - 5:50PM   Junde Li          See Canvas

      CMPSC 360-004R (11423)   Th 3:05PM - 4:20PM   Shiqing Chen   See Canvas

      CMPSC 360-005R (11424)   Th 4:35PM - 5:50PM   Shiqing Chen   See Canvas

      CMPSC 360-006R (11935)   Th 1:35PM - 2:50PM   Wei Wei          See Canvas

Homework

Homework will primarily be performed and graded on Canvas. Due dates and times for each assignment are listed on Canvas, and no late homework will be accepted for any reason. As such, the two lowest homework scores will be dropped. This way, we can fairly disallow any exceptions in homework deadlines; you should save these exceptions for when you really need them.

Exams

There will be one midterm and one final exam. All exams are mandatory. We will not provide alternate exams except for university approved reasons.

Exam Schedule:

      • Midterm – Week 7, time TBD

      • Final – Finals week (details forthcoming from the University Registrar’s office)

Additional exam information:

      • The midterm exam will be non-cumulative.

      • The final exam will be cumulative in the sense that some material from the first half of the course will be included on it, but it will mainly focus on the material not covered on the midterm.

      • There will be a review during lecture the day of exam.

      • All exams will be open book

      • Exams will be administered on Canvas during their scheduled time (so are time limited). Questions will be randomized and pulled from a large question bank, so expect each exam to be unique (while maintaining the same level of difficulty).

      • You should be as clear and concise as possible in your solutions. Understandability of your answer is as desirable as correctness. A simple, direct analysis is worth more points than a convoluted one. Points might be subtracted for solutions that are too long.

Other important matters

Academic Integrity.   Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University’s Code of Conduct states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students’ dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts.

      Academic integrity includes a commitment by all members of the University community not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.

      The CSE Department has its own statement on Academic Integrity: http://www.eecs.psu.edu/students/resources/EECS-CSE-Academic-Integrity.aspx Academic sanctions for each violation includes a reduction in score for the submission and optionally a reduction of the final letter grade in the course.

Disability Accommodation.   Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources Web site provides contact information for every Penn State campus (http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/campus-contacts). For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources Web site (http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources). In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations. 

Documentation guidelines: 

      http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/applying-for-services

Counseling & Psychological Services.   Many students at Penn State face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or emotional wellbeing. The university offers a variety of confidential services to help you through difficult times, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultations, online chats, and mental health screenings. These services are provided by staff who welcome all students and embrace a philosophy respectful of clients’ cultural and religious backgrounds, and sensitive to differences in race, ability, gender identity and sexual orientation.

Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS)

      http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/: 814-863-0395

Counseling and Psychological Services at Commonwealth Campuses

      http://senate.psu.edu/faculty/counseling-services-at-commonwealth-campuses/

Penn State Crisis Line (24 hours/7 days/week): 877-229-6400

      Crisis Text Line (24 hours/7days/week): Text LIONS to 741741

Education Equity.   Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage (http://equity.psu.edu/reportbias/).

Recording Consent: This course may require you to take exams using certain proctoring software that uses your computer’s webcam or other technology to monitor and/or record your activity during exams. The proctoring software may be listening to you, monitoring your computer screen, viewing you and your surroundings, recording and storing any and all activity (including visual and audio recordings) during the proctoring process. By enrolling in this course, you consent to the use of the proctoring software selected by your instructor, including but not limited to any audio and/or visual monitoring which may be recorded. Please contact your instructor with any questions.

      This course will also automatically record any and all Zoom meetings and lectures associated with this course. By enrolling in this course, you consent to any audio and/or visual recording.

Online Interaction Code of Conduct: By enrolling in this course, you agree to adhere to the Penn State Code of Conduct:

      https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/support-safety-conduct/student-conduct/code-conduct

In particular, especially during Zoom lectures and on Canvas discussions, no inconsiderate, disrespectful, or harassing behavior of any kind will be tolerated. If this is violated, depending on the severity of the offense (and at the discretion of the course staff), the offending individual(s) may face consequences including (but not limited to): posts being deleted, removed and/or muted during Zoom meetings, and/or reported to the Penn State Student Affairs office for violation of the code of conduct.

Camera Usage for Assessment Integrity This course may require you to have a webcam for class sessions and assessments. Classes and assessments may be conducted using Zoom or other technology selected by your instructor which may use your computer’s webcam or other technologies to communicate, monitor, and/or record classes, class activities, and assessments. Assessments may also be conducted using proctoring software, which may listen to you, monitor your computer screen, view you and your surroundings, and record (including visual and audio recordings) all activity during the proctoring process. Please contact your instructor if you are unable to comply or have any questions or concerns.

Note: The instructors reserve the right to modify this syllabus at any time.