Questions tagged [computer-science]
Computer science is the study of the principles and use of computation.
23
questions
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How can I help/tutor a friend who is taking the same course as me?
I am a STEM major and have a good friend who is a non-STEM major. We are both taking a CS minor, me because it is relevant to my field of study and he because he wants a backup plan in case his ...
6
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What are some rationales to teach Computer Science students Sequences and Series?
I was asked to teach the following topics to undergraduate Computer Science (CS) students in a discrete math course:
Sequences (definition, convergent sequences, find the limit of a convergent ...
1
vote
2
answers
118
views
How can I effectively learn and master Math and Statistics for Data Science?
I completed a BSc in Computer Science recently and am going on to do an MSc in Data Science. However, the only focussed math module I had during CS was in the first year and I didn't do too well. I ...
10
votes
10
answers
2k
views
Should mathematical logic be included in a discrete mathematics course for computer science?
I am going to teach 2nd-year undergraduate students in applied math or computer science a course called "Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science".
Most students who take this course plan ...
0
votes
0
answers
109
views
Which resource(s) to use to learn the following syllabus of discrete structures?
(YES) - included;
(NO) - explicitly excluded;
as stated from the IOI syllabus(2019);
5.2 Discrete Structures (DS)
DS1. Functions, relations, and sets
(YES)Functions (surjections, injections, inverses, ...
26
votes
15
answers
4k
views
What's the point of learning equivalence relations?
I teach an introductory discrete mathematics course at a community college to math and computing majors, usually in their sophomore year. As is common, it's partly used as the first foray into formal ...
0
votes
2
answers
95
views
Need to learn recurrence relation discrete mathematics [closed]
Which is the best tutorial available online to learn the recurrence relation concept and its solution in discrete mathematics, in a systematic way?
5
votes
2
answers
316
views
How to explain NP-hardness and NP-completeness to students
Computer science is becoming more and more important for mathematicians nowadays. Terms like big data, algorithm, artificial intelligence and others are frequently on the news. Many mathematical ...
4
votes
1
answer
207
views
When are arithmetic operator priorities typically taught in school, in relation to computer programming?
When are operator priorities for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division typically taught in school? This this obviously differs by geography, I'm trying to understand how common it is for ...
6
votes
8
answers
2k
views
What should I learn after calculus?
I'm currently planning on taking AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics as a freshman in high school next year, and am looking to go into the computer science field. I was wondering what track I should ...
5
votes
2
answers
127
views
Why do we do numerical modeling in science? (for 7-16 year old)
I have little experience in teaching young kids. Soon, I will present my research to a class of 7 to 16 year old kids. I do some analytical modelling but I mainly do individual-based simulations in ...
3
votes
2
answers
69
views
Expository/accessible source on computability/undecidability
Are there any expository books or articles on computability that are accessible to the general public on the order of Simon Singh's math popularizations (The Code Book)?
I'm looking for one with lots ...
7
votes
1
answer
226
views
Teaching Neural Networks to 6th grade students
I've been thinking if it would be possible to teach something about the basic mathematics behind Neural Networks / Deep learning to a class of 6th graders (12-13ys old). A 90-minute (max) lecture must ...
11
votes
2
answers
287
views
How to motivate 'Theory of Computation'?
I am teaching Theory of Computation for the first time soon, and need a short
introduction and justification to motivate students who have only Introductory Programming behind them.
I am torn between:
...
6
votes
4
answers
207
views
Recommendations for free, basic resource on discrete probability for a discrete structures class?
I'm teaching a course this fall on Discrete Structures for Computer Science. It's taught out of the math department but is a service course for the CS department with 90-95% of students being CS ...
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Which math classes should be included in an undergraduate computer science program?
As part of my job search, I've come into contact with universities that are beginning to offer new majors at their university such as applied mathematics or computer science. A frequent interview ...
21
votes
3
answers
730
views
How can I discourage proof by patchwork?
I have a student who is working in their spare time on proving or disproving a conjecture of the form
$$\exists x.\forall y.\phi(x,y).$$
Right now their strategy is to construct an $x$ and then show ...
7
votes
3
answers
881
views
How to effectively teach pseudocode
I'm helping with an algorithms course next term. I've taught intro programming courses and seminars, but never intro algorithms. I've spoken with previous TAs and instructors, and one of the biggest ...
22
votes
9
answers
3k
views
"A computer program IS a proof": Introducing rigor via programming
This provocative essay
Igor Rivin.
"Some Thoughts on the Teaching
of Mathematics—Ten Years Later."
Notices of the AMS, Jun/Jul 2014.
(PDF download link).
suggests that a discussion of Igor'...
7
votes
2
answers
246
views
Motivating combinatorics identity to different audiences: $ \binom{n}{k}^2 \geq \binom{n}{k-1}\binom{n}{k+1} $
Recently I asked the following identity on Math.StackExchange knowing it had several proofs:
$$ \binom{n}{k}^2 \geq \binom{n}{k-1}\binom{n}{k+1} $$
See here. They quickly give the one-liner:
In ...
17
votes
2
answers
735
views
Flipping (or not) a large graduate class
I teach a graduate class in algorithms. Students take this class primarily as a breadth requirement in grad school, and they are a mix of MS and Ph.D students in computer science. Most students taking ...
45
votes
12
answers
31k
views
What should be included in a freshman 'Mathematics for computer programmers' course?
Many universities are changing up the way that they teach math service courses. 1-3 semesters of calculus and maybe a course in linear algebra are often included in majors (such as computer science) ...
5
votes
3
answers
128
views
Three approaches to regular languages
Disclaimer:
This is a theoretical computer-science question to see how the community will react, relevant meta discussion can be found here. I picked the topic to be formal languages, as question ...