Theory of Computation

Gain insights into formal languages, regular languages, regular expressions, context-free languages, and Turing machines. Delve into automata models and enhance problem-solving skills through extensive exercises.

Beginner

56 Lessons

15h

Certificate of Completion

AI-POWERED

Explanations

AI-POWERED

Explanations

This course includes

10 Assessments

10 Playgrounds

9 Quizzes

This course includes

10 Assessments

10 Playgrounds

9 Quizzes

Course Overview

What are the mathematics behind computers? What are the theoretical foundations of computer languages? Such questions can be explored by understanding formal languages and automata models. In this comprehensive course, you’ll explore formal languages, regular languages, and how to model them with their associated automata models. Next, you’ll cover regular expressions and grammar, and their equivalents. Then, you’ll explore context-free languages (the foundations of programming languages), pushdown automa...Show More

What You'll Learn

A solid understanding of formal languages, their structures and properties

Working knowledge of capabilities and limitations of different types of automata

The ability to convert between regular expressions, finite automata, context-free grammars and pushdown automata

Insights into computability theory, undecidability, reductions and the halting problem

What You'll Learn

A solid understanding of formal languages, their structures and properties

Course Content

Getting Started

Get familiar with core computation concepts, formal languages, and finite state machines.

Prerequisites and Learning Outcomes

Introduction to Computation

Formal Languages Finite State Machines Finite Automata in Real-life Situations

Exam on Formal Languages

Assessment

Finite Automata

Walk through finite automata concepts, including DFAs, NFAs, regular languages, and machine minimization.

Deterministic Finite Automata Regular Languages Nondeterministic Finite Automata Equivalence of NFAs and DFAs NFAs and Complements Minimal Automata Machines with Output Computer Arithmetic Minimal Mealy Machines

Exam on Finite Automata

Assessment

Regular Expressions and Grammars

Break apart regular expressions, their equivalence with finite automata, and regular grammars.

Regular Expressions Equivalence of Regular Expressions and Regular Languages Regular Grammars

Exam on Regular Expressions and Grammars

Assessment

Properties of Regular Languages

Grasp the fundamentals of regular languages, decision algorithms, Pumping Theorem, and nonregular language properties.

Closure Properties Decision Algorithms for Equality of Two Languages Other Decision Algorithms Pumping Theorem for Regular Languages Nonregular Languages Using Closure Properties to Show Nonregularity

Exam on Properties of Regular Languages

Assessment

Pushdown Automata

Deepen your knowledge of pushdown automata, their applications, and deterministic vs. nondeterministic behaviors.

Adding a Stack to Finite Automata Examples of PDA Pushdown Automata and Determinism

Exam on Pushdown Automata

Assessment

Context-Free Grammars

7 Lessons

Focus on the structure, simplification, and conversion of context-free grammars and pushdown automata.

Exam on Context-Free Grammars

Assessment

Properties of Context-Free Languages

7 Lessons

Master the key properties, algorithms, and formalisms of context-free languages.

Exam on Properties of Context-Free Languages

Assessment

Turing Machines

8 Lessons

Try out Turing machines, their definitions, functions, variations, and the Church-Turing Thesis.

Exam on Turing Machines

Assessment

The Landscape of Formal Languages

4 Lessons

Unpack the core of formal languages, from RE languages and unrestricted grammars to Chomsky hierarchy.

Exam on the Landscape of Formal Languages

Assessment

10.

Computability

3 Lessons

Examine limits of computability, undecidability problems, and implications of Rice's theorem.

Exam on Computability

Assessment

11.

Conclusion

1 Lesson

Grasp the fundamentals of computation models, language representation, and computational boundaries.

Course Author

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