Princeton University
Computer Science Department

Computer Science 240
Reasoning about Computation

Zeev Dvir

Spring 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 Computer Science Building 302 Iasonas Petras
3 Th 2:30PM-3:20PM Computer Science Building 105 Iasonas Petras
4 F 10:00AM-10:50AM Friend Center 108 Jane Pan
5 F 1:30PM-2:20PM Friend Center 109 Vishvak Murahari
6 F 1:30PM-2:20PM Friend Center 110 Devon Loehr
7 F 2:30PM-3:20PM Friend Center 109 Corey Sinnamon

Lead Instructor

Zeev Dvir, Ph.D. : email: zdvir (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

Devon Loehr : email: dloehr (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: Tu from 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Vishvak Saivenkat Murahari : email: murahari (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: M from 9:00am to 10:00am and Th from 1:30pm until 2:30pm

Jane Pan : email: jp7224 (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: Th from 9:30am until 11:30am

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

Office Hours: Tu from 1:00pm to 2:00pm and Fr from 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Corey Sinnamon : email: sinnamon (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: W from 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Precepts start on Thursday 1/27

Preceptors' office hours start on Monday 1/31

Undergraduate Graders

Charles An

Ellie Chang

Michael Fletcher

Katie Kolodner

Annie Liang

Benjamin Liu

Anthony Ng

Devon Ulrich

Yuewen Wu

Helena Yu

Lab Teaching Assistants

Nicholas Allen

Rishi Dange

Liam Esparraguera

Richard Li

Raymond Liu

Jane Mentzinger

Baris Onat

Donovan Pearce

Greg Weaving

Undergraduate Coordinator

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

Former Lab Teaching Assistants

Josh Kolenbrander (until 4/18/2022)

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.