Upcoming Deadlines and Events

Mon Feb 23

Midterm 1: 7pm–9pm

Tue Feb 24

Conflict Midterm 1: (time TBA)

Mon Mar 02

Guided problem set 5 due at 9pm

Tue Mar 03

Homework 5 due at 9pm

Recent Announcements

Thu Feb 19

• ACM is holding a review session for Midterm 1 Sat Feb 21 from 11pm–2pm in ECEB1013.
• Solutions for Midterm 1 practice exam 1 are available along with videos of Emily solving it during the in person review session and finishing the job offline.
• Homework 4 solutions are available (along with with solutions for Lab 5.)

Mon Feb 16

Practice exams for Midterm 1 are available. We strongly recommend attempting each of these practice exams under exam conditions—two hours alone in a quiet space with a one-page cheat sheet but no other notes or internet—before discussing them with others or looking at any solutions. There will be an opportunity to work with course staff and other students on part of each exam (preferably after you attempt the exam alone) in place of lecture, lab, or a homework party. Handwritten solutions and walkthrough videos for each practice exam will be posted late in the evening the same day as that event.

• Practice 1 (answer booklet) — reviewed on Thu Feb 19 in place of lecture
• Practice 2 (answer booklet) — reviewed on Fri Feb 20 in place of each lab
• Practice 3 (answer booklet) — reviewed on Sat Feb 21 in place of homework party

The format of the actual exam will match these practice exams. At the actual exam, we will pass out the question sheet, give everyone a few minutes to read the questions, pass out the answer booklets, and then start the clock.

In addition to the practice exams, there are a collection of practice problems available on PrairieLearn. Completion of these problems will not be considered when determining your overall course grade.

Sat Feb 14

The standard grading rubrics have been updated to include a rubric for describing context-free grammars (CFGs). We highly recommend checking it as you prepare your solutions to Homework 4 Problem 2.

Also, submissions are open on Gradescope for both Homework 4 problems.

Thu Feb 12

• Midterm 1 will be held on Monday, February 23, from 7pm to 9pm.

  • The exam will cover all material covered in Homeworks 1, 2, 3, and 4: induction on strings and languages, regular languages, regular expressions, DFAs, NFAs, fooling sets, regular language transformations, and context-free languages and grammars.

  • The exam will be split across multiple rooms throughout the Campus Instructional Facility (CIF). Please go the room that matches the start of your last name.

    • A–He: 3039 Campus Instructional Facility — (≤148 students in 300 seats)
    • Ho–Sm: 0027/1025 Campus Instructional Facility (the auditorium) — (≤238 students in 483 seats)
    • Sr–Z: 2035 Campus Instructional Facility — (≤93 students in 187 seats)

  • Please read and understand the exam policies. In particular, you are allowed to bring one double-sided 8½"×11" handwritten cheat sheet to the exam.

  • We are offered multiple optional review sessions next week:

    • Thursday, February 19, in place of the usual lecture
    • Friday, February 20, in place of the usual labs
    • Saturday, February 21, in place of the usual homework party
    • Sunday, February 22, in place of the usual homework party

    ACM is also planning to offer an independent review session; stay tuned for more details. There will no homework party on Monday, February 23 (as you'll be taking the exam!)

  • We will post multiple practice exams early next week, which will have the same format as (but different questions than!) the actual midterm. We will cover these practice exams in the review sessions. Solutions and walkthrough videos will be released for each practice exam after the corresponding review session.

  • We are offering a conflict exam on Tuesday, February 24. If you cannot attend the regular midterm for any of the reasons outlined in the student code, please fill out this registration form no later than Friday, February 20. On Monday, February 23, we will email the precise time and location of the conflict exam to students who have filled out the registration form.

  • If you have a DRES accommodation, you are welcome to take the exam at the DRES Testing Accommodation Center either Monday or Tuesday. We strongly recommend scheduling your exam at TAC immediately if you have not done so already.

• Homework 3 solutions are available.

Mon Feb 09

Two sets of additional notes are available with links next to their relevant lecture on the Course Calendar page.

1. Infinte Fooling Set Review Guide written by former 374 TA Eric Huber
2. Notes on Regular Language Transformations written by current 374 CA Pranay Midha

The latter gives detailed coverage of material we'll go over in lecture tomorrow Tue Feb 10. You may find it helpful in preparing for Homework 4 and the first midterm exam.

Thu Feb 05

Homework 2 solutions are available (along with with solutions for Lab 3a.)

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