CSE191: Discrete Structures

Spring 2018

Version: 5/1/2018 11:48a

Prof. Russ Miller

338 Davis Hall
645-4737 (rarely, if ever, answered)
Read this before sending e-mail to miller at buffalo dot edu.
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/faculty/miller/

In this course, we present fundamental material that will be used as the foundation for more advanced courses in computer science and engineering. Topics are expected to include, but are not limited to, recursion, iteration, recurrence relations, asymptotic notation, evaluating resources for algorithms, graphs, logic, sets, and some basic counting theory. CSE 191 is required for computer science and computer engineering majors.

Text Books

Text #1 (required): For the introductory material in this course, we will use an on-line book from zyBooks (zyBooks.com).
- These instructions are only valid for Miller's Spring 2018 CSE191 course. This is a very reduced and customized version of their standard text. It is not suitable for any other course. In particular, you cannot use this text if you decide to take the other offering of this course this semester.
- In order to access the book for this class only, go to learn.zybooks.com.
- Enter zyBooks code BUFFALOCSE191MillerSpring2018 and click Subscribe.
- Your subscription will be valid until May 3, 2018.
- If that does not work, please contact support@zybooks.com.
Text #2 (required): Algorithms Sequential and Parallel: A Unified Approach.
- Note that this is the 3rd Edition of the book. Do not purchase or gain access to, either legally or illegally, the first or second edition of the book. Do not steal (illegally obtain) the third edition of the book. Obtaining any edition of the book without purchase through proper channels is illegal and there are consequences to such actions.

Important Information

Academic Integrity: Plagiarism in any way, shape, or form, including obtaining an unauthorized copy of the book or allowing someone access to view your work, will 1) earn you an F in the course and 2) result in your name being placed in the department and university database of students who have violated such policies. In addition, other sanctions may be sought, including, but not limited to, being dismissed from the university. Feel free to review the departmental policy and university policy on plagiarism and academic integrity.
Lectures may not be recorded. This includes, but is not limited to, video and audio recording.
It is Departmental policy that recitations do not meet during the first week of class.
There will be no programming projects in this class.
There will be no graded homeworks and no quizzes in this class.
There will be no makeup exams. If you have a medical issue, documentation is required.
If you have a conflict with the final exam, you must handle the situation in terms of making arrangements in your other class(es).
Student comments from previous offerings are available. These are the anonymous and unedited comments from the end-of-the-semester Student Surveys provided by the university.

Grading & Critical Dates:

No Class on the following dates: TBA
Readings are listed below. This list is updated as we start new sections/chapters.
All graded assignments are ''cumulative.''
Your grade will be determined as follows:
- Attendance and Participation in Recitations - 10%
- Participation Activities and Challenge Activities in Chapters 1-4 ("optional" sections are not required) are due by 9:00a on the date of Mid-Term Exam I - 10%
- Mid-Term Exam I: zyBook chapters 1-4. Thursday, March 1, in class - 25%
- Mid-Term Exam II: Material after zyBook and up through and including the lecture prior to this exam. Thursday, April 26, in class - 25%
- Final Exam: Cumulative, Thursday, May 17, Knox 104 - 30%
(Sample) Previous Exams
Final Grades in Course (these are the "curved" grades):
- A: 75+
- B: 60+
- C: 50+
- D: 35+
- F: <35

Reading Timeline (will be adjusted throughout the semester)

Jan 30: Course Overview
Feb 1: Start zyBook Chapter 1 (Logic)
Feb 8: Start zyBook Chapter 2 (Sets)
Feb 13: Start zyBook Chapter 3 (Functions)
Feb 15: Start zyBook Chapter 4 (Induction & Recursion)
Feb 20: Start M&B Chapter 2 (Chapter 2 PPT (as PDF))
March 13: Start M&B Chapter 1
March 29: Start M&B Chapter 4
May 1: Quicksort
May 3: Start M&B Chapter 5
May 8: Pages 236-243 in M&B
May 10: TBA
TBA: Chapter 9 overview
TBA: Pages 192-196 in M&B

Class: TTh, 9:30-10:50a, Cooke 121

Recitations:

Attendance will be taken in recitations.
Attendance and Participation in recitations will contribute towards your final grade in the course.

Mondays, 5:00p, Norton 210, Dhruv Kumar
Tuesdays, 8:00a, Cooke 127A, Manjusha Choorakuzil
Wednesdays, 8:00a, Cooke 127A, Brian Badura
Wednesdays, 9:00a, Norton 214, Devashish Agarwal
Wednesdays, 12:00N, Norton 210, Dhruv Kumar
Fridays, 4:00p, Cooke 127A, Devashisha Agarwal

Personnel

Please read Sending E-mail to Faculty before sending a message by e-mail to the instructor or Teaching Assistants.
Dr. Russ Miller
- Office Hours: TTh, after class, hallway outside Cooke 121 & by appointment
T.A.: Manjusha Choorakuzi (e-mail)
- Office Hours
  - Tuesdays, 12:00-2:00p
  - Thursdays, 12:00-2:00p
- Location: Davis Lounge
T.A.: Devashish Agarwal (e-mail)
- Office Hours
  - Tuesdays, 2:00-3:00p
  - Thursdays, 2:00-3:00p
  - Fridays, 2:00-4:00p
- Location: Davis Lounge
T.A.: Dhruv Kumar (e-mail)
- Office Hours
  - Mondays, 2:00-3:00p
  - Wednesdays, 2:00-4:00p
- Location: Davis Lounge
T.A.: Brian Badura (e-mail)
- Office Hours
  - Mondays, 10:00a-12:00N
  - Wednesdays, 11:00a-12:00N
  - Fridays, 11:00a-12:00N
- Location: Davis Lounge

Challenger Disaster

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Learning Outcome (Middle States Accreditation): Ability to understand fundamental principles in the field of Discrete Mathematics.

I reserve the right to change this syllabus at any time.