Discrete Structuresand

The Three-Fold Introduction to Computer Science

Doug BaldwinDepartment of Computer Science

SUNY Geneseo

Motivation

Computer science entails…• Design and implementation of algorithms,

programs, systems, etc• Mathematical analysis of algorithms, programs,

etc• Experimental analysis of algorithms, programs, etc

These should be taught concurrently and from day 1

Ca 1992…

CS1(Pascal, selection, logic,

recursion, induction, recurrences, big-O, lists,

trees)

CS2(Object Pascal, iteration,

arrays, sorting, summations, …)

Ca 1992…

CS1(Pascal, selection, logic,

recursion, induction, recurrences, big-O, lists,

trees)

CS2(Object Pascal, iteration,

arrays, sorting, summations, …) ? !

Ca 1994…

CS1(Pascal, recursion,

induction, …)

CS2(Object Pascal, iteration,

summations, …)

CS0(CS overview,

computational thinking)

Ca 1994…

CS1(Pascal, recursion,

induction, …)

CS2(Object Pascal, iteration,

summations, …)

CS0(CS overview,

computational thinking)

? !

ca 1999

CS 1-1/2(logic, recursion,

induction, recurrences, big-O, lists, trees)

CS2(OOP, summations,

sorting, searching, E[…], hashing)

CS 1(Java)

Algorithms(graphs, greedy, dynamic

programming, …)

ca 1999

?

CS 1-1/2(logic, recursion,

induction, recurrences, big-O, lists, trees)

CS2(OOP, summations,

sorting, searching, E[…], hashing)

CS 1(Java)

Algorithms(graphs, greedy, dynamic

programming, …)

Ca 2003 - Present

CS 2(OOP, recursion, lists,

trees, Big O)

CS 2-1/2(logic, induction,

recurrences, summations, sorting, searching)

CS 1(Java)

Algorithms(probability, E[…], hashing,

graphs, greedy, …)

Ca 2003 - Present

CS 2(OOP, recursion, lists,

trees, Big O)

CS 2-1/2(logic, induction,

recurrences, summations, sorting, searching)

CS 1(Java)

Algorithms(probability, E[…], hashing,

graphs, greedy, …)

If n = 0 …Assume T(k)T(k+1)…

Summary

• Workable model for integrating discrete structures into introductory/intermediate CS– Works for students– Works for department (10 year record)

• Covers most of CC 2001 (and CS 2013) core DS material (exceptions: counting, sets/functions/relations)