Princeton University
Computer Science Department

Computer Science 240
Reasoning about Computation

Ran Raz

Fall 2022


Directory
General Information | Schedule | Policies

Summary

An introduction to mathematical topics relevant to computer science. Combinatorics, probability and graph theory will be covered in the context of computer science applications. The course will present a computer science approach to thinking and modeling. Students will be introduced to fundamental concepts in theoretical computer science, such as NP-completeness and cryptography that arise from the world view of efficient computation.


Course Content

We will cover basic topics in math that are important in computer science as well as basic topics in theoretical computer science. The following is a rough estimation of the number of lectures spent on each topic: Mathematical Proofs (1.5 lectures); Combinatorics (2 lectures); Probability Theory (6 lectures); Midterm Exam (replacing 1 lecture); Graph Theory (4 lectures); Game Theory (1.5 lectures); Countable vs Uncountable Sets (1 lecture); Theoretical Computer Science (Computability, Complexity, Cryptography) (7 lectures).


Administrative Information

Lectures

MW 3:00PM-4:20PM, Computer Science Building 104

Precepts

Please direct questions concerning your precept assignment to Colleen Kenny-McGinley, the CS Department's Undergraduate Program Manager. Colleen's contact information is provided later on this page. The course's professor, lead preceptors, and graduate student preceptors do not manage precept assignments.

Number Meeting Time Meeting Place Preceptor
1 Th 12:30PM-1:20PM Friend Center 108 Dmitry Paramonov
2 Th 12:30PM-1:20PM Friend Center 110 Iasonas Petras
3 Th 2:30PM-3:20PM Computer Science Building 105 Iasonas Petras
4 F 10:00AM-10:50AM Friend Center 009 Constance Ferragu
5 F 10:00AM-10:50AM Friend Center 108 Anirudh Ajith
6 F 1:30PM-2:20PM Friend Center 009 Sacheth Sathyanarayanan
7 F 1:30PM-2:20PM Friend Center 108 Jake Ross Silverman

Lead Instructor

Ran Raz, Ph.D. : email: ranr (at) cs.princeton.edu

Faculty Lead Preceptor

Iasonas Petras, Ph.D. : email: ipetras (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: M from 11:00AM to 3:00PM

Preceptors

Anirudh Ajith : email: aa8052 (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: F from 11am to 1pm

Constance Ferragu : email: cf7551 (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: Tu from 2pm to 4pm

Dmitry Paramonov : email: dp20 (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: W from 4:30pm to 6:30pm

Sacheth Sathyanarayanan : email: sacheths (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: M from 4:30pm to 6:30pm

Jake Ross Silverman : email: jakers (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: Th from 2:30pm - 4:30pm


Precepts start on Thursday 9/8

Preceptors' office hours start on Monday 9/12


Undergraduate Graders

Aditya Mehta

Alex Zhang

Andrew Alexander

Andy Wang

Gabriela Bourla

Jasmine Zhang

Kimberly Hou

Nicole Klausner

Riya Gandhi

Sarah Pedersen

Yu Shen

Lab Teaching Assistants

Annie Liang

Bill Ao

Donovan Pearce

Ellie Bae

Eric Ahn

Ijay Narang

Liam Esparraguera

Nicholas Allen

Raymond Liu

Richard Li

Undergraduate Coordinator

Colleen Kenny-McGinley : CS Building 210, email: ckenny (at) cs.princeton.edu


Prerequisites

COS 126 and 226 (or sufficient mathematical background), and MAT 175 or MAT 202 or MAT 204. COS 226 can be taken along with COS 240 in the same term.


Textbooks and Other Reading


Academic Regulations

Please study the course Policies webpage.