COMPSCI 120 : Mathematics for Computer Science

Science

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Basic mathematical tools and methods needed for computer science are introduced. Elementary mathematical skills for defining, analysing and reasoning with abstracts objects used in programming are developed. Topics include integers and rational numbers, strings and languages, methods of proof (including induction), propositional logic, and elementary introductions to graphs, trees, counting and probability.

Course Overview

You will encounter a collection of topics:
• integers, primes and divisibility, modular arithmetic
• sets and strings
• basics of combinatorics and probability
• introduction to algorithms and their running time, functions, and limit techniques
• basic of graphs, trees.
• direct proofs, proof by cases, proof by contradiction, proof by construction, and proof by induction

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MATHS 102 or at least 13 credits in Mathematics at NCEA Level 3 or D in CIE A2 Mathematics or C in CIE AS Mathematics or 3 out of 7 in IB Mathematics Restriction: Cannot be taken after COMPSCI 225, MATHS 255

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Communicate mathematically. Students should be able to read and interpret basic mathematical symbols and notation (for example, standard terminology of numbers, sets, functions, strings, trees and graphs), and be capable of translating and communicating their own ideas into mathematical language. (Capability 1, 2 and 4)
  2. Perform simple mathematical modelling. Students should be capable of translating simple real-life tasks into algorithms, and of describing the tasks in mathematical language and abstraction. In particular, students should be capable of using the language and ideas represented by sets, functions, strings, trees and graphs when modelling and studying real-life tasks. (Capability 3 and 5)
  3. Understand counting and probability. Students should be comfortable with basic ideas in probability and counting, and applying them in easy real-life settings (for example, counting arrangements of items, computing expectation of a discrete random variable). (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Understand formal logic and perform elementary proofs, including inductive proofs: Students should be comfortable with elementary formal mathematical proof techniques and inductive reasoning, and be capable of using these to prove theorems, such as correctness of a simple algorithm. They should be able to formally determine validity of a logical statement, for example by truth tables. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 1% Individual Coursework
Tutorials 9% Group & Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Test 20% Individual Test
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignments
Quizzes
Tutorials
Final Exam
Test

Learning Resources

A coursebook containing the lecture notes will be available from Canvas.

Special Requirements

To pass the course a student needs 50% of the overall.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a 1.5-hour tutorial, 3.5 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 11/01/2020 02:52 p.m.