Princeton University
Computer Science Department

Computer Science 240
Reasoning about Computation

Mark Braverman

Spring 2024
Directory
General Information | Schedule | Policies

Summary

An introduction to mathematical topics relevant to computer science. Combinatorics, probability and graph theory will be covered in the context of computer science applications. The course will present a computer science approach to thinking and modeling. Students will be introduced to fundamental concepts in theoretical computer science, such as NP-completeness and cryptography that arise from the world view of efficient computation.

Course Content

We will cover basic topics in math that are important in computer science as well as basic topics in theoretical computer science. The following is a rough estimation of the number of lectures spent on each topic: Mathematical Proofs (1.5 lectures); Combinatorics (2 lectures); Probability Theory (6 lectures); Midterm Exam (replacing 1 lecture); Graph Theory (4 lectures); Game Theory (1.5 lectures); Countable vs Uncountable Sets (1 lecture); Theoretical Computer Science (Computability, Complexity, Cryptography) (7 lectures).

Administrative Information

Lectures

MW 3:00PM-4:20PM, Computer Science Building 104

Precepts

Please direct questions concerning your precept assignment to Susan Giranda, the CS Department's Course and Program Administrator (and CC in your email Colleen Kenny-McGinley, the CS Department's Undergraduate Program Manager). Susan's and Colleen's contact information is provided later on this page. The course's professor, lead preceptors, and graduate student preceptors do not manage precept assignments.

Number Meeting Time Meeting Place Preceptor
1 Th 12:30PM-1:20PM Friend Center 112 Dmitry Paramonov
2 Th 12:30PM-1:20PM Sherrerd Hall 001 Iasonas Petras
3 Th 2:30PM-3:20PM Friend Center 009 Iasonas Petras
4 F 9:00AM-9:50AM Friend Center 009 Jake Silverman
5 F 9:00AM-9:50AM Friend Center 108 Constance Ferragu
8 Th 1:30PM-2:20PM Friend Center 112 Daniel Greenberg
9 Th 1:30PM-2:20PM Friend Center 005 Yanjin Chen

Lead Instructor

Mark Braverman, Ph.D. : email: mbraverm (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: after Lectures either in CS 104 or in CS 304

Faculty Lead Preceptor

Iasonas Petras, Ph.D. : email: ipetras (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: M from 11:00AM to 3:00PM

Preceptors

Yanjin Chen : email: yc0901 (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: W from 4:30PM to 6:30PM

Constance Ferragu : email: cf7551 (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: F from 1:00PM to 3:00PM

Daniel Greenberg : email: dg25 (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: Tu from 1:00PM to 3:00PM

Dmitry Paramonov : email: dp20 (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: Tu from 5:00PM to 7:00PM

Jake Ross Silverman : email: jakers (at) cs.princeton.edu

Office Hours: Th from 2:20PM to 4:20PM

Precepts start on Thursday 2/1

Preceptors' office hours start on Thursday 2/1

Undergraduate Graders

Alexander Khoretonenko

Andrew Webb

Aneesh Tekulapally

Anupta Argo

Christian Arnold

Jack O'Donnell

Venkat Manepalli

William Pan

Lab Teaching Assistants

Annie Liang

David Yan

Eric Ahn

Huseyin Sahin

Ijay Narang

Kate Park

Katie Kolodner

Maya Rubenstein

Samuel Li

Senne Michielssen

Course and Program Administrator

Susan Giranda : CS Building 204, email: sgiranda (at) cs.princeton.edu

Undergraduate Program Manager

Colleen Kenny-McGinley : CS Building 210, email: ckenny (at) cs.princeton.edu

Former Lab Teaching Assistants

Sidharth Bejugama (until 4/19/2024)

Prerequisites

COS 126 and 226 (or sufficient mathematical background), and MAT 175 or MAT 202 or MAT 204. COS 226 can be taken along with COS 240 in the same term.

Textbooks and Other Reading

Academic Regulations

Please study the course Policies webpage.