EECS 376: Foundations of Computer Science

The University of Michigan
Fall 2024
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An introduction to Computer Science theory, with applications. Design and analysis of algorithms, including paradigms such as divide-and-conquer and dynamic programming. Fundamentals of computability and complexity -- learn to identify what problems a computer cannot solve at all, what problems are unlikely to be efficiently solvable, and how to apply approximations to such problems. Introduction to randomness in computation, including how algorithms can benefit from randomness and how to analyze randomized algorithms. Applications of computational hardness to cryptography, including specific algorithms that are essential to the internet.

See the syllabus for all the details.

Welcome to EECS 376, Fall 2024!

We're glad you're here. This semester all instruction will be in person.

Make sure to have a laptop and a reliable internet connection.

More details in the syllabus.

Calendar   Regular Calendar OH Calendar OH Schedule

Schedule

Day # Material and Readings in Notes Deadline
Design and Analysis of Algorithms
Mon 26 Aug L01 Introduction, the Potential Method 1 2
Wed 28 Aug L02 Divide and Conquer 1
Discussion D01 Review: Asymptotic Notation, Proofs, Induction
Mon 2 Sep No class — Labor Day
Wed 4 Sep L03 Divide and Conquer 2
HW1
8pm ET
Discussion D02 Divide and Conquer
Mon 9 Sep L04 Dynamic Programming 1 1 2 3
Wed 11 Sep L05 Dynamic Programming 2 1 2
HW2
8pm ET
Discussion D03 Dynamic Programming
Mon 16 Sep L06 Dynamic Programming 3 (graph algorithms)
Wed 18 Sep L07 Greedy Algorithms
HW3
8pm ET
Discussion D04 Greedy Algorithms and Graph DP
Computability
Mon 23 Sep L08 Formal Languages and Finite Automata 1 2 3
Wed 25 Sep L09 Turing Machines and Decidability
HW4
8pm ET
Discussion D05 Finite Automata and Turing Machines
Mon 30 Sep L10 Diagonalization
Wed 2 Oct L11 "Natural" Undecidable Problems
HW5
8pm ET
Discussion D06 Diagonalization and Intro to Turing Reductions
Mon 7 Oct L12 Turing Reductions and More Undecidable Problems
Wed 9 Oct L13 Recognizability
HW6
8pm ET
Discussion D07 Reductions and Recognizability
Midterm
Mon 14 Oct No class — Fall Break
Wed 16 Oct L14 Midterm review
Thu 17 Oct
HW7
8pm ET
Discussion D08 Midterm Review
Mon 21 Oct No class — Midterm 7-9pm
Midterm
7pm ET
Complexity
Wed 23 Oct L15 The Classes P and NP, Satisfiability 1 2
Discussion D09 P and NP Overview
Mon 28 Oct L16 NP-Completeness and P vs NP
Wed 30 Oct L17 More NP-Complete Problems
Discussion D10 NP-Completeness
Mon 4 Nov L18 The Cook-Levin Theorem
Wed 6 Nov L19 Search and Approximation Algorithms 1
HW8
8pm ET
Discussion D11 Cook-Levin, Search and Approximation
Mon 11 Nov L20 Approximation Algorithms 2
Randomness in Computation
Wed 13 Nov L21 Probability, Randomness in Computation 1
HW9
8pm ET
Discussion D12 Approx Algs and Randomness Intro
Mon 18 Nov L22 Randomness in Computation 2
Wed 20 Nov L23 Randomness in Computation 3
HW10
8pm ET
Discussion D13 Randomness and Modular Arithmetic Review
Cryptography
Mon 25 Nov L24 One-time Pad, Discrete Logarithm, and Diffie-Hellman 1 2
Wed 27 Nov No class — Thanksgiving
HW11
8pm ET
Discussion No discussion — Thanksgiving
Mon 2 Dec L25 Factoring and RSA
Wed 4 Dec L26 Zero Knowledge
Discussion D14 Cryptography
Special Topics
Mon 9 Dec L27 Special Topics (Untested Material)
HW12
8pm ET
Final Exam
Fri Dec 13 Final Exam, 7–9pm
Final
7pm ET

People

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Scott Dexter

sdexter@umich.edu

Workshop: 4:30-6pm Tue/Thu

1109 FXB

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Chris Peikert

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10:30am-12pm and 12-1:30pm Mon/Wed

220 Chrysler

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Nicole Wein

nswein@umich.edu

3-4:30pm MW

1013 Dow

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Ishaan Arya

iarya@umich.edu

2:30-3:30pm F

2153 GGBL

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Kaitlyn Fa

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2:30-3:30pm F

1014 Dow

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Michael Jiang

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Venkat Kannan

vrkannan@umich.edu

2:30-3:30pm Th

1005 Dow

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Eric Khiu

erickhiu@umich.edu

12:30-1:30pm Th

1690 Beyster

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Uma Kulkarni

umaku@umich.edu

9:30-10:30am F

1690 Beyster

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Reese Liebman

liebmanr@umich.edu

11:30am-12:30pm F

185 EWRE

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Anthony Liu

anthliu@umich.edu

4:30-5:30pm Th and 3:30-4:30pm F

2153 GGBL and 2150 Dow

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Emily Ma

emilymaa@umich.edu

10:30-11:30am F

1206 Dow

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Katherine McGraw

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9:30-10:30am Th

1017 Dow

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Teo Miklethun

teomi@umich.edu

4:30-5:30pm Th

2147 GGBL

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Muskaan Mittal

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11:30am-12:30pm F

1303 EECS

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Chaitanya Nalam

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Vikram Raghu

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11:30am-12:30pm F

1024 FXB

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Jett Rosen

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9:30-10:30am F

1013 Dow

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Michael Wang

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1:30-2:30pm F

3150 Dow

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Zhixuan Wu

zhixuanw@umich.edu

5:30-6:30pm Th

3150 Dow

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John Xie

johnxie@umich.edu

3:30-4:30pm Th

1018 Dow