Textbook: N. J. Cutland. Computability, An introduction to recursive function theory. We will cover most of Chapters 1-6, and depending on availability of time, maybe parts of Chapters 7 and 8. We will also cover an introduction to Complexity (not from this textbook; I will provide notes). Partial list of topics: URM Computable functions; recursion; minimalisation; primitive recursive functions; Turing machines; universal programs; Church's Thesis; (partial) decidability; r.e. sets; P vs. NP; NP-completeness.
Homework: I will assign HW for every class meeting. Doing HW is essential to learning mathematics -- there is no way around it. You must take it seriously, and should expect to spend at least two to three hours on each assignment. I encourage you to work with your classmates and/or get help from me or Professor Tollisen at the CAE on problems you can't do. But be honest with yourself: after working with classmates or getting help, ask yourself: "Will I be able to do this problem on my own if it shows up on the exam?" To find out, write up your own solutions, without looking at the work you already did with others; then ask me or Professor Tollisen to check your work for the problems you're not sure about.
Midterms: We will have three in-class midterms (subject to change with prior notice): F 9/25; W 10/21; M 11/16.
Final: The final exam date and time is determined by the Registrar's Office (oxy.edu/registrars-office). Please check to make sure you do not have any time conflicts with this date and time (or any early travel plans); I do not give early or late finals. The final exam will cover all topics covered during the semester.
Make-ups: I will not give any make-up exams. If you miss a midterm with a valid excuse (e.g., a medical reason) and provide documentation for it, that midterm will simply not count for you -- instead, your other midterms and final exam will count proportionally more. This policy does not apply to the final exam.
Grading: midterms 60%, final 40%.
Attendance: You are responsible for everything that goes on in every class meeting, such as announcements, handouts, taught topics that are not in the book, etc. This means even if you miss a class for a valid reason, it is your responsibility to contact me and find out what you missed. I may or may not decide to count attendance as part of your grade; if I do, it will count as part of the 5% for homework.
E-mail: When necessary, I will make announcements via email, instead of in the classroom. I expect you to check your Oxy email at least once a day. Also, feel free to use our class email list, math352-L at oxy dot edu, to send messages to everyone in the class.
Academic Honesty: I feel strongly about protecting honest and hard-working students against unfair and dishonest actions sometimes committed by a few. I don't give warnings; I refer all suspicious cases to the Judicial Examiner without hesitation.
Students with learning disability: Please see me and the CAE for any special arrangements.