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  CSE 312Au '12:  Foundations of Computing II
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 Midterm Review (Cyrus)
 Midterm Review (Ruzzo)
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Lecture Notes
 1:  Intro
 2:  Counting
 3:  Discrete Probability
 4:  Conditional Probability
 5:  Independence
 6:  Random Variables; Expectation
 7:  Continuous Random Variables
 8:  Avg-case & Randomized Algs
 9:  Tail Bounds
 10:  Limit Theorems
 11:  Max Likelihood Estimators
 12:  Expectation Maximization
   EM Example (.xls)
 13:  Estimators, II
 14:  Hypothesis Testing
Resources
 LaTeX Quickstart
   

Lecture:  EEB 037 (schematic) MWF 1:30- 2:20 
Section A:  MGH 234 (schematic) Th 1:30- 2:20 
Section B:  MGH 228 (schematic) Th 2:30- 3:20 
 
Office Hours Location Phone
Instructor:  Larry Ruzzo, ruzzocs  M 12:00- 1:00  CSE 554  543-6298
TAs:  Cyrus Rashtchian, cyrashcs  Tu 3:00- 4:00  CSE 203 
  Kane Swanson, kanecs  W 4:30- 5:30  CSE 006 

Course Email: cse312a_au12@uw.edu. Staff announcements and general interest student/staff Q&A about homework, lectures, etc. The instructor and TA are subscribed to this list. Enrolled students are as well, but probably should change their default subscription options. Messages are automatically archived. 

Discussion Board: Also feel free to use Catalyst GoPost to discuss homework, etc.

Catalog Description: Examines fundamentals of enumeration and discrete probability; applications of randomness to computing; polynomial-time versus NP; and NP-completeness.

Prerequisites: CSE 311; CSE 332, which may be taken concurrently.

Credits: 4

Learning Objectives: Course goals include an appreciation and introductory understanding of (1) methods of counting and basic combinatorics, (2) the language of probability for expressing and analyzing randomness and uncertainty (3) properties of randomness and their application in designing and analyzing computational systems, (4) some basic methods of statistics and their use in a computer science & engineering context, (5) the distinction between tractable and (apparently) intractable computational problems and (6) methods and appropriate reasoning for showing tractability (e.g. dynamic programming) and intractability (reduction).

Grading: Homework, Midterm, Final. Possibly some quizes, small programming assignments. Overall weights 55%, 15%, 30%, roughly.

Late Policy: Assignments are due at the start of your quiz section on the due date, either on paper or electronically. Late papers/e-turnin will be accepted (but penalized 25%) up to the start of the next lecture; not accepted thereafter, barring major emergencies.

Extra Credit: Assignments may include "extra credit" sections. These will enrich your understanding of the material, but at a low points per hour ratio. Do them for the glory, not the points, and don't start extra credit until the basics are complete.

Collaboration: Homeworks are all individual, not group, exercises. Discussing them with others is fine, even encouraged, but you must produce your own homework solutions. Follow the "Gilligan's Island Rule": if you discuss the assignment with someone else, don't keep any notes (paper or electronic) from the discussion, then go watch 30+ minutes of TV (Gilligan's Island reruns especially recommended) before you continue work on the homework by yourself. You may not look at other people's written solutions to these problems, not in your friends' notes, not in the dorm files, not on the internet, ever. If in any doubt about whether your activities cross allowable boundaries, tell us before, not after, you turn in your assignment. See also the UW CSE Academic Misconduct Policy, and the links there.

Textbooks:

Required:

Introduction to Probability (2nd edition), Dimitri P. Bertsekas and John N. Tsitsiklis, Athena Scientific, 2008(Available from U Book Store, Amazon, etc.)

Reference. (No direct use of this, but if you already own a copy, keep it for reference. Some students have said they like its coverage of counting (Chapter 5 and 7.5, 7.6) and discrete probability (Chapter 6)):

Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications, (sixth edition) by Kenneth Rosen, McGraw-Hill, 2006. Errata. (Available from U Book Store, Amazon, etc.)


Portions of the CSE 312 Web may be reprinted or adapted for academic nonprofit purposes, providing the source is accurately quoted and duly credited. The CSE 312 Web: © 1993-2012, the Authors and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington.

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