About CS1800 (London)

This course introduces the mathematical structures and methods that form the foundation of computer science. The material is motivated by applications from computer science.

We will cover roughly the same topics as the CS1800 courses in Boston, but we'll have different schedules, exams, and homework assignments. You'll finish this coruse prepared to continue your course of study in computer science at Khoury College.

Topics
  1. Techniques: binary and modular arithmetic, set notation, and methods of counting, evaluating sums, solving recurrences.
  2. Supporting Theory: the basics of probability, proof by induction, growth of functions, and analysis techniques.
  3. General problem solving techniques with many applications to real problems.

Meeting

Lecture Tuesday 1:00-2:30pm (Marleybone). Thursday 8:00-9:00am (Marleybone)
Recitation (CS1802) Section I: Friday 11:00am-12:00pm (Stratford)
Section II: Friday 1:00-2:00pm (Stratford)
Final Exam December 10, 3:00-5:00pm (Marleybone)

Syllabus

Syllabus: PDF

Instruction Team

Professor Laney Strange

E-mail laneys@northeastern.edu
Web https://northeastern.edu/home/laney
Office Hours Mon 5:00-8:00pm, Knightsbridge

Teaching Assistant Khalil Haji

E-mail haji.k@husky.neu.edu
Web https://haji.dev
Office Hours Weds 5:00-8:00pm (Mayfair)
Thurs 3:00-4:30pm (Richmond)

Assignments

Homework. Homeworks will be assigned each week. You will submit your solution on paper (typed or neatly written).
Recitation (CS1802). Recitation is required. We meet once a week to work on problems related to recent course material. You must turn in your work paper at the end of recitation to receive a grade.

Evaluation

CS1800 and CS1802 are evaluated separately.

CS1800

  • Homework (one dropped): 45%
  • Midterm: 20%
  • Final: 20%
  • Participation/Attendance: 15%

CS1802

  • Quizzes: 40%
  • Participation / Recitation Assignments: 60%

Four quizzes will be given during the semester, at the beginning of recitation. There are 5-7 questions per quiz. Your quiz grade will be scaled, though (for example, getting one question wrong on a 6-question quiz doesn't mean your quiz score is 5/6 = 83%). Quiz scaling will be applied as follows:

  • Zero incorrect: Perfect
  • One incorrect: Good
  • Two incorrect: Satisfactory
  • Three or four incorrect: Unsatisfactory
  • More than four incorrect: Poor

Your lowest homework score will be dropped and will not count towards your CS1800 grade.

We will have a one-hour midterm exam during the semester, as well as a final exam. The exams will test material similar to that assigned in weekly homeworks and quizzes. You may not bring any notes, books, or devices to class on exam days.

Attendance is required for lectures, and, along with your engagement during lecture, it counts towards your participation grade in CS1800. Registers will be taken for all classes, and late arrival (later than 15 minutes) will be counted as an absence. Notify the Academic Operations Officer (osa@nchlondon.ac.uk and cc:laneys @ northeastern.edu) as soon as you are aware that you must miss a class for any reason.

Classroom Environment

In my classroom, please ask questions, and answer questions! In computer science, we seldom get anything right on the first try. We see how an attempt turned out, and we try again. I like our classroom to reflect that approach as well; so please answer a question that's been posed, even if you're not sure of the answer.

To create and preserve a classroom atmosphere that optimizes teaching and learning, all participants share a responsibility in creating a civil and non-disruptive forum for the discussion of ideas.

When you come to class, I ask that you be fully present. No phones are permitted in the classroom. If you use a laptop, use it only to take notes. Please be respectful of your fellow students and me by participating attentively and non-disruptively.