Course details

Complexity

SLO Acad. year 2015/2016 Summer semester 5 credits

Current academic year

Turing machines as a basic computational model for computational complexity analysis, time and space complexity on Turing machines. Alternative models of computation, RAM and RASP machines and their relation to Turing machines in the context of complexity. Asymptotic complexity estimations, complexity classes based on time- and space-constructive functions, typical examples of complexity classes. Properties of complexity classes: importance of determinism and non-determinism in the area of computational complexity, Savitch theorem, relation between non-determinism and determinism, closure w.r.t. complement of complexity classes, proper inclusion between complexity classes. Selected advanced properties of complexity classes: Blum theorem, gap theorem. Reduction in the context of complexity and the notion of complete classes. Examples of complete problems for different complexity classes. Deeper discussion of P and NP classes with a special attention on NP-complete problems (SAT problem, etc.). Relationship between decision and optimization problems. Methods for computational solving of hard optimization problems: deterministic approaches, approximation, probabilistic algorithms. Relation between complexity and cryptography.  Deeper discussion of PSPACE complete problems, complexity of formal verification methods.

Guarantor

Vojnar Tomáš, prof. Ing., Ph.D. (DITS)

Language of instruction

Czech

Completion

Examination

Time span

  • 26 hrs lectures
  • 26 hrs projects

Department

Department of Intelligent Systems (UITS)

Subject specific learning outcomes and competences

Understanding theoretical and practical limits of arbitrary computational systems. Ability to use a selected methods for computationally hard problems.

Learning objectives

Familiarize students with the complexity theory, which is necessary to understand practical limits of algorithmic problem solving on physical computational systems.
Familiarize students with a selected methods for solving hard computational problems.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Formal language theory and theory of computability on master level.

Study literature

  • Gruska, J.: Foundations of Computing, International Thomson Computer Press, 1997, ISBN 1-85032-243-0
  • Bovet, D.P., Crescenzi, P.: Introduction to the Theory of Complexity, Prentice Hall International Series in Computer Science, 1994, ISBN 0-13915-380-2
  • Hopcroft, J.E. et al: Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages, and Computation, Addison Wesley, 2001, ISBN 0-201-44124-1
  • Goldreich, O.: Computational Complexity: A Conceptual Perspective, Cambridge University Press, 2008, ISBN 0-521-88473-X
  • Kozen, D.C.: Theory of Computation, Springer, 2006, ISBN 1-846-28297-7

Fundamental literature

  • Gruska, J.: Foundations of Computing, International Thomson Computer Press, 1997, ISBN 1-85032-243-0
  • Bovet, D.P., Crescenzi, P.: Introduction to the Theory of Complexity, Prentice Hall International Series in Computer Science, 1994, ISBN 0-13915-380-2
  • Hopcroft, J.E. et al: Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages, and Computation, Addison Wesley, 2001, ISBN 0-201-44124-1

Syllabus of lectures

  1. Introduction. Complexity, time and space complexity.
  2. Matematical models of computation, RAM, RASP machines and their relation with Turing machines.
  3. Asymptotic estimations, complexity classes, determinism and non-determinism from the point of view of complexity.
  4. Relation between time and space, closure of complexity classes w.r.t. complementation, proper inclusion of complexity classes.
  5. Blum theorem. Gap theorem.
  6. Reduction, notion of complete problems, well known examples of complete problems.
  7. Classes P and NP. NP-complete problems. SAT problem.
  8. Travelling salesman problem, Knapsack problem and other important NP-complete problems
  9. NP optimization problems and their deterministic solution: pseudo-polynomial algorithms, parametric complexity
  10. Approximation algorithms.
  11. Probabilistic algorithms, probabilistic complexity classes.
  12. Complexity and cryptography
  13. PSPACE-complete problems. Complexity and formal verification.

Progress assessment

Study evaluation is based on marks obtained for specified items. Minimimum number of marks to pass is 50.

The minimal total score of 15 points gained out of the projects.

Controlled instruction

  • 4 projects - 8 points each.
  • Final exam: max. 68 points


Course inclusion in study plans

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