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CS 505 - Computability and Complexity Theory

Welcome to the class! I’m excited to have you. Throughout this website, you’ll find all the relevant information needed for the course.

On this page, I’ll post important announcements, as well as a changelog. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.

Announcements

  • [May 8, 2025] All grades except for the Final Project write-up have been posted to Blackboard. You also should have received feedback in Blackboard for your project presentations (peer feedback and my own feedback). If you have any questions, contact me as soon as possible. Sample solutions for Homework 5 have been posted. Lecture 20 typed notes posted.
  • [April 28, 2025] Final Project write-ups are now required to be submitted via Blackboard. This has been noted on the Final Project page, as well as the PDF included there. Typed notes for Lecture 19 posted.
  • [April 26, 2025] Handwritten notes for Lecture 23 and Lecture 24 posted. Additional resources for the PCP theorem posted; see Resources.
  • [April 21, 2025] Homework 5 posted. Sample solutions for Homework 3 and Homework 4 posted. Make-up office hours will be held this week: April 23, 2025, at 2:00pm (in-person or via Zoom).
  • [April 11, 2025] Lecture 21 and Lecture 22 handwritten notes posted. Recorded lectures for Crypto and Complexity Theory, along with handwritten notes for those lectures, posted. Office Hours next week are cancelled due to travel on my end; I will still be available via email or Piazza.
  • [April 7, 2025] Lecture 19 and Lecture 20 handwritten notes posted. Schedule updated. Group orderings for the Final Project presentations posted. Please see the webpage for the schedule (i.e., when your group is presenting), along with how the ordering was decided.
  • [March 31, 2025] Homework 4 posted. Grades for Homework 3 posted on Gradescope. Schedule updated; no class the week of April 14, instead there will be recorded lectures.
  • [March 30, 2025] Typed notes for Lecture 17 and Lecture 18 posted.
  • [March 26, 2025] Handwritten notes for Lecture 17 and Lecture 18 posted. Typed notes for Lecture 16 posted.
  • [March 17, 2025] Typed notes for Lecture 15 posted.
  • [March 16, 2025] Handwritten notes for Lecture 15 and Lecture 16 posted. Typed notes for Lecture 14 posted. Midterm grades posted to Gradescope.
  • [March 11, 2025] Final Project information posted. Midterm sample solutions posted to Piazza. Schedule updated with Final Project information.
  • [March 3, 2025] Homework 3 posted. Homework 2 sample solutions posted.
  • [March 1, 2025] Typed notes for Lecture 13 posted.
  • [February 28, 2025] Lecture 11 and Lecture 12 typed notes posted. Handwritten notes for Lecture 13 and Lecture 14 posted.
  • [February 23, 2025] Lecture 9 and Lecture 10 typed notes posted. Handwritten notes for Lecture 11 and Lecture 12 posted.
  • [February 18, 2025] Schedule updated.
  • [February 17, 2025] Lecture 9 and Lecture 10 handwritten notes posted. Homework 1 grades released on Gradescope. Sample solutions for Homework 1 posted.
  • [February 13, 2025] Homework 2 posted.
  • [February 10, 2025] Lecture 7 and Lecture 8 handwritten notes posted.
  • [February 04, 2025] Lecture 5 and Lecture 6 posted.
  • [February 03, 2025] Handwritten notes for Lectures 2-6 posted (there are no notes for Lecture 1 since it was written on the board). Lecture 5 and Lecture 6 typed notes will be posted tonight or tomorrow. Zoom link added to office hours (see Important Info below and the Syllabus).
  • [January 31, 2025] Homework 1 updated to reflect schedule changes. Problem 5 has been changed. If you do not see this change, you may need to force refresh the course website in your browser, or open it in an incognito window. Schedule updated.
  • [January 27, 2025] Lecture 3 and Lecture 4 posted.
  • [January 21, 2025] Homework 1 posted. Homework collaboration policy posted.
  • [January 20, 2025] In-class lecture on January 21, 2025, is cancelled due to the weather. Class will be held on Zoom. Please check your email for the Zoom link.
  • [January 20, 2025] Since today is a holiday and the weather is very cold, in-person office hours are optional. A Zoom link will be sent for office hours today (check your email).
  • [January 19, 2025] Lecture 1 and Lecture 2 have been posted. Office hours have been updated (see above or the syllabus).

Important Info

Instructor: Alexander R. Block
Email: arblock [at] uic [dot] edu

Drop-in Office Hours

Course Modality and Schedule: In-person only, BSB 289, 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm, Tuesday & Thursday.

Changelog

  • [January 20, 2025] Announcements moved to the top of this page. Links to lecture notes added to the schedule and resources.
  • [January 19, 2025] Added important info to this page. Announcement on this day posted.
  • [January 13, 2025] Syllabus updated.
  • [January 06, 2025] Website available.