🔢 MemoLearning Theory of Computation

Formal languages, automata theory, computability, and complexity analysis

← Back to Computer Science

Theory of Computation Curriculum

14
Core Units
~170
Mathematical Concepts
5
Machine Types
3
Major Theories
1

Mathematical Foundations

Build the mathematical foundation needed for formal computation theory.

  • Set theory and relations
  • Functions and mappings
  • Proof techniques
  • Mathematical induction
  • Strings and alphabets
  • Formal language definitions
  • Graph theory basics
  • Boolean algebra
2

Finite Automata

Master the simplest computational model for pattern recognition and regular languages.

  • Deterministic finite automata (DFA)
  • Non-deterministic finite automata (NFA)
  • ε-transitions and ε-NFA
  • Equivalence of DFA and NFA
  • Minimization of DFA
  • Regular expressions
  • Pumping lemma for regular languages
  • Applications and limitations
3

Regular Languages

Explore the properties and closure operations of regular languages.

  • Regular language definition
  • Closure properties
  • Union and intersection
  • Complement and concatenation
  • Kleene star operation
  • Decision problems
  • Myhill-Nerode theorem
  • Regular language algorithms
4

Context-Free Grammars

Learn formal grammar systems for defining programming language syntax.

  • Grammar definition and terminology
  • Productions and derivations
  • Parse trees and ambiguity
  • Chomsky Normal Form
  • Greibach Normal Form
  • Leftmost and rightmost derivations
  • Inherent ambiguity
  • Grammar transformations
5

Pushdown Automata

Understand stack-based machines that recognize context-free languages.

  • Pushdown automata definition
  • Stack operations
  • Deterministic vs non-deterministic PDA
  • Acceptance by final state
  • Acceptance by empty stack
  • Equivalence with CFGs
  • DPDA limitations
  • Parsing algorithms
6

Context-Free Languages

Explore the properties and applications of context-free languages.

  • CFL closure properties
  • Pumping lemma for CFLs
  • Intersection with regular languages
  • Decidability problems
  • CYK parsing algorithm
  • Ogden's lemma
  • Inherently ambiguous CFLs
  • Applications in compilers
7

Turing Machines

Master the most powerful computational model and universal computation.

  • Turing machine definition
  • Configurations and computations
  • Multi-tape Turing machines
  • Non-deterministic Turing machines
  • Universal Turing machines
  • Church-Turing thesis
  • Encoding of Turing machines
  • Linear bounded automata
8

Computability Theory

Investigate the fundamental limits of what can be computed algorithmically.

  • Decidable and undecidable problems
  • The halting problem
  • Reduction techniques
  • Rice's theorem
  • Post correspondence problem
  • Recursive and recursively enumerable sets
  • Turing reducibility
  • Degrees of unsolvability
9

Complexity Theory

Analyze the computational resources required to solve problems efficiently.

  • Time and space complexity
  • P and NP classes
  • NP-completeness
  • Cook-Levin theorem
  • Polynomial-time reductions
  • Space complexity classes
  • PSPACE and PSPACE-completeness
  • Hierarchy theorems
10

NP-Completeness

Study the most important complexity class and its complete problems.

  • Definition of NP-completeness
  • Boolean satisfiability (SAT)
  • 3-SAT problem
  • Vertex cover problem
  • Hamiltonian path problem
  • Traveling salesman problem
  • Reduction techniques
  • Approximation algorithms
11

Advanced Complexity Classes

Explore sophisticated complexity classes beyond P and NP.

  • PSPACE and EXPTIME
  • Probabilistic complexity (BPP, RP)
  • Interactive proof systems
  • Alternating Turing machines
  • Circuit complexity
  • Parallel complexity classes
  • Quantum complexity
  • Counting complexity (#P)
12

Formal Verification

Apply computational theory to verify correctness of systems and programs.

  • Model checking fundamentals
  • Temporal logic (LTL, CTL)
  • Automata-based verification
  • Program verification
  • Invariant checking
  • Abstraction techniques
  • Symbolic model checking
  • Verification tools
13

Approximation and Randomization

Learn techniques for dealing with intractable problems through approximation.

  • Approximation algorithms
  • Approximation ratios
  • Greedy approximation
  • Linear programming relaxation
  • Randomized algorithms
  • Monte Carlo methods
  • Las Vegas algorithms
  • Derandomization techniques
14

Advanced Topics

Explore cutting-edge areas in theoretical computer science.

  • Quantum computation theory
  • DNA computing models
  • Membrane computing
  • Cellular automata
  • Computational learning theory
  • Information-based complexity
  • Distributed computing theory
  • Cryptographic complexity

Unit 1: Mathematical Foundations

Build the mathematical foundation needed for formal computation theory.

Set Theory and Relations

Master fundamental set operations, relations, and mathematical structures used throughout computation theory.

Functions and Mappings

Understand function properties including injective, surjective, and bijective mappings for formal specifications.

Proof Techniques

Learn direct proof, proof by contradiction, and proof by contrapositive for theoretical computer science.

Mathematical Induction

Master inductive proof techniques essential for proving properties of recursive structures and algorithms.

Strings and Alphabets

Define formal notations for strings, languages, and alphabets as building blocks of computation theory.

Formal Language Definitions

Establish precise mathematical definitions for languages, operations, and their properties.

Graph Theory Basics

Learn graph representations and algorithms needed for automata and computational models.

Boolean Algebra

Master Boolean operations and logical reasoning fundamental to computational logic and circuits.

Unit 2: Finite Automata

Master the simplest computational model for pattern recognition and regular languages.

Deterministic Finite Automata (DFA)

Learn the formal definition and construction of deterministic finite state machines with unique transitions.

Non-deterministic Finite Automata (NFA)

Understand non-deterministic computation with multiple possible transitions and acceptance paths.

ε-transitions and ε-NFA

Extend NFAs with epsilon transitions for more flexible automata construction and language recognition.

Equivalence of DFA and NFA

Prove that DFAs and NFAs recognize the same class of languages using subset construction.

Minimization of DFA

Optimize DFAs by removing redundant states while preserving language recognition capabilities.

Regular Expressions

Master pattern specification using regular expressions and their equivalence with finite automata.

Pumping Lemma for Regular Languages

Learn the fundamental tool for proving that certain languages are not regular through contradiction.

Applications and Limitations

Explore practical applications of finite automata and understand their computational limitations.

Unit 3: Regular Languages

Explore the properties and closure operations of regular languages.

Regular Language Definition

Understand the formal characterization of regular languages through multiple equivalent definitions.

Closure Properties

Learn how regular languages remain closed under various operations and their practical implications.

Union and Intersection

Construct automata for language union and intersection using product construction techniques.

Complement and Concatenation

Master complement construction and concatenation operations for building complex languages.

Kleene Star Operation

Understand the Kleene closure operation for generating infinite languages from finite sets.

Decision Problems

Solve algorithmic problems about regular languages including membership and equivalence testing.

Myhill-Nerode Theorem

Apply the fundamental theorem characterizing regular languages through indistinguishable strings.

Regular Language Algorithms

Implement efficient algorithms for regular language operations and decision procedures.

Unit 4: Context-Free Grammars

Learn formal grammar systems for defining programming language syntax.

Grammar Definition and Terminology

Master the formal components of grammars including terminals, non-terminals, and production rules.

Productions and Derivations

Understand how grammars generate strings through systematic application of production rules.