OVERVIEW

The teaching presents concepts and results of Automata Theory and of Computability Theory of fundamental importance in the cultural background of a computer scientist.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

To understand key concepts of Theory of Automata and Theory of Computability, such as expressive power of automata, and decidability and semi-decidability of problems. 

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the teaching the student/student will be able to:

• Know some fundamental concepts and results in the culture of acomputer science (abstract machine, language recognition, computable function, decidability, haltingproblem).
• Develop simple automata, including through the use of simulators.

PREREQUISITES

• Basics of sets and functions
• Programming experience in some language.

TEACHING METHODS

Traditional.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Automata and Languages
Alphabets, strings, languages
Deterministic (DFA) and non deterministic (NFA) finite state automata
DFA minimization, regular expressions
Closure properties of regular languages, pumping lemma
Context-free grammars, deterministic and non deterministic push down automata (PDA)
Closure properties of context-free languages, pumping lemma

Computability
Turing machines, accepted languages
Indecidability, recursive and recursively enumerable languages, universal language and machine, indecidability of the universal language
Halting problem
Indecidable problems on Turing machines, Rice theorem, Church thesis

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Course notes.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FRANCESCO DAGNINO (President)

ARNAUD HENRI PAUL SANGNIER (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

According to the calendar approved by the Degree Program Board:https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/8759/studenti-orario

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists of a written test and an oral test.In order to take the oral test,it is necessary to have passed the written test.

Guidelines for students with certified Specific Learning Disorders, disabilities, or other special educational needs are available at https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/8759/studenti-disabilita-dsa 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written test verifies the student's ability to put into practice the concepts seen in class. The oral test verifies the understanding of the concepts and the ability to illustrate them in   appropriate way.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, please refer to the course’s AulaWeb module or contact the instructor.