CS 173

CS 173 - Discrete Structures

Spring 2025

Title	Rubric	Section	CRN	Type	Hours	Times	Days	Location	Instructor
Discrete Structures	CS173	AL1	39311	LEC	3	0930 - 1045	T R	3039 Campus Instructional Facility	Margaret M Fleck Naina Balepur
Discrete Structures	CS173	AL2	61102	LEC	3	0930 - 1045	T R	3039 Campus Instructional Facility	Margaret M Fleck Naina Balepur
Discrete Structures	CS173	AL3	31187	LEC	3	1530 - 1645	T R	3039 Campus Instructional Facility	Margaret M Fleck Naina Balepur
Discrete Structures	CS173	AL4	48263	LEC	3	1530 - 1645	T R	3039 Campus Instructional Facility	Margaret M Fleck Naina Balepur
Discrete Structures	CS173	BL1	50094	LEC	3	1400 - 1515	T R	3039 Campus Instructional Facility	Margaret M Fleck Naina Balepur
Discrete Structures	CS173	BL2	50093	LEC	3	1400 - 1515	T R	3039 Campus Instructional Facility	Margaret M Fleck Naina Balepur

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Web Page

https://courses.engr.illinois.edu/cs173/fa2023/

Official Description

Discrete mathematical structures frequently encountered in the study of Computer Science. Sets, propositions, Boolean algebra, induction, recursion, relations, functions, and graphs. Course Information: Credit is not given for both CS 173 and MATH 213. Prerequisite: One of CS 124, CS 125, ECE 220; one of MATH 220, MATH 221.

Subject Area

Theory / Math

Course Director

Benjamin Leverett Cosman
Margaret M Fleck

Text(s)

Varies

Learning Goals

Predicate logic: determine the truth of statements, perform simple transformations (esp. negation), accurately apply formal definitions (esp. vacuous truth cases, attention to variable types and scope) (6)
Write literate proofs using straightforward application of standard outlines (direct, contrapositive, contradiction, upper/lower bounds). (3)
Write inductive proofs, including proofs on trees (3), (6)
State and apply basic definitions, facts, and notation for commonly used discrete math constructs (3)
Derive big-O running time for simple pseudocode examples, especially recursive examples. Includes finding closed-forms for recursively-defined formulas using unrolling and recursion trees (6)
Classify examples the complexity of very simple examples in terms of countable versus uncountable, polynomial versus exponential, decidable versus undecidable (6)

Topic List

logic and proofs
number theory
sets and collections of sets
relations
functions
graphs
Induction and recursive definition
trees
big-O, algorithms, NP
state diagrams
countability

Assessment and Revisions

Revisions in last 6 years	Approximately when revision was done	Reason for revision
New Textbook	Spring 11-Spring 2013	Integrate logic and proof learning throughout term, relate math to applications, modernize
On-line activities	Fall 2011-Spring 2013 (on-going)	Move simple material out of lectures, aid learning with drill, help students prepare for lectures and be more engaged,
On-line homework submission with rubric grading	Fall 2012-Spring 2013	Simplify submission process, encourage quality writing product, enable research into automated feedback

Required, Elective, or Selected Elective

Required

Last updated

2/3/2019by Margaret M. Fleck