COMS W1004Introduction to Computer Science

May 28, 2008

Teaching staff

• Instructor: Chris Murphy– cmurphy@cs.columbia.edu– Office hours: Mon 3-5pm, 608 CEPSR

• TA: Aditi Rajoriya – ar2630@columbia.edu– Office hours: Tue/Thu 7:30-8:30pm, 122 Mudd

• Office hours start next week (June 2)

About the course

• This course is an introduction to computer science for computer science and other science and engineering majors having little or no prior programming experience.

• The goals of this course are to teach students: – fundamental Java programming skills – knowledge of the fundamental concepts in computer

science – algorithmic program-solving capabilities

Course homepage

http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~cmurphy/1004

• Please check the course homepage frequently for important announcements and changes to the reading assignments

CourseWorks

http://courseworks.columbia.edu/

• Check the “Discussion” section for questions related to the homeworks

• Check the “Gradebook” to make sure our records match your own

Grading

• Homeworks: 60%

• Final exam: 40%

• These are “guidelines” for the final grade

Homeworks

• There will be four homework assignments

• Each homework has two parts:– Theory– Programming

• Homeworks will be posted on the course homepage and in CourseWorks

Exams

• An in-class final exam will be held on the last day of class: Wednesday, July 2

• Exam covers material from readings and lectures (so come to class!)

Textbooks

• Schneider & Gersting Invitation to Computer Science, Java Version, Third Edition

• Lewis & Loftus Java Software Solutions: Foundations of Program Design, Fifth Edition

• Both available at CU Bookstore or online

CUNIX

• You will need a login account to access Columbia’s computing environment (CUNIX)

• Columbia students: It is the same one you use to get your Columbia email, etc.

• If you don’t have a UNI or don’t know what yours is, go to http://uni.columbia.edu

Syllabus

• The course covers approx. 50% Java programming basics and 50% computer science theory

• Check the course homepage for assigned readings for each lecture

Academic honesty

• Please familiarize yourself with the Computer Science Department’s policy:

http://www.cs.columbia.edu/education/honesty

• It is YOUR responsibility to read and adhere to the policy

Today

• What is computer science?• What is an algorithm?• Examples of algorithms• Expressing algorithms

• Reading: S&G 1-2

• Next lecture: THIS Friday!

What is Computer Science?

“The study of algorithms, including:1. Their formal and mathematical properties2. Their hardware realizations3. Their linguistic realizations4. Their applications”-Schneider & Gersting, p.4

Computer Science is NOT (just) programming!

What is an Algorithm?

“A procedure for solving a mathematical problem in a finite number of steps that frequently involves repetition of an operation; broadly: a step-by-step method for accomplishing some task.”

-Schneider & Gersting, p. 5

“A well-ordered collection of unambiguous and effectively computable operations that, when executed, produces a result and halts in a finite amount of time.”

-Schneider & Gersting, p.10

Theory Homework #1

• Do the following questions from S&G Third Edition:– Chapter 1: 7, 9– Chapter 2: 1, 10, 11, 21, 23

• Homework is due at the beginning of class on June 4!– Just a paper copy, not electronic