Fundamentals of the Theory of Computation: Principles and Practice - Softcover

Raymond Greenlaw; James H. Hoover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1558605479 ISBN 13: 9781558605473

Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann, 1998

Synopsis

This innovative textbook presents the key foundational concepts for a one-semester undergraduate course in the theory of computation. It offers the most accessible and motivational course material available for undergraduate computer theory classes. Directed at undergraduates who may have difficulty understanding the relevance of the course to their future careers, the text helps make them more comfortable with the techniques required for the deeper study of computer science. The text motivates students by clarifying complex theory with many examples, exercises and detailed proofs.

About this title

From the Back Cover

This innovative textbook presents the key foundational concepts that can be covered in a one semester undergraduate course in the theory of computation. It offers the most accessible and motivational course material available for undergraduate computer theory classes and is directed at the typical undergraduate who may have difficulty understanding the relevance of the course to their future careers. The text helps make students more comfortable with techniques required for the deeper study of computer science.

This text is a bridge between theory and practice. It shows how theory is motivated by practical problems, and in turn how theory influences the practice of computing. Simple tools like string matchers, complex tools like compilers, and general notions like cryptographic security all lie at the interface between principles and practice.

Features:

• Contains coverage of contemporary topics: languages and problems, machine models, grammars, reductions, resource consumption, syntax vs. semantics, sequential vs. parallel computation, feasible vs. intractable problems
  
• Motivates students by clarifying complex theory with many examples, exercises, and detailed proofs
  
• Offers an integrated review of discrete math concepts, defining each concept where it is first used
  
• Unifies notation for describing machine models
  
• Emphasizes computational complexity
  

About the Author

Dr. Raymond Greenlaw is the Founder and Dean of the School of Computing and Professor of Computer Science at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia. Ray is the Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at Chiang Mai University in Thailand and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the College of Management and Technology in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is the author of 13 books in the field of computer science. His books cover complexity theory, graph theory, the Internet, networking, operating systems, parallel computing, the theory of computation, and the World Wide Web. Dr. Greenlaw has published 60 research papers and given over 155 invited lectures throughout the world. As a PI or co-PI, Ray has been awarded over $6,000,000 in grants and contracts, and his research has been supported by the following countries: Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United States. He has won numerous international awards including three Senior Fulbright Fellowships, a Humboldt Fellowship, a Japanese Society for Promotion of Science Fellowship, two visiting Professor Fellowships from Italy, a Sasakawa Fellowship for Japanese Studios, and a Spanish Fellowship for Science and Technology. Dr. Greenlaw served as the Regional Coordinator for the State of Georgia's $100,000,000 Yamacraw Project, which was designed to make the state of Georgia a leader in the telecommunications field. Ray serves as a Commissioner for the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology (ABET). He received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Pomona College in 1983, a Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Washington in 1986, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Washington in 1988.

Edition details

• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1558605479
• ISBN 13: 9781558605473
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 356