Skip to main content
NounStudy
Back to Course Catalog
CIT342Sciences3 Unitsintermediate

Formal Languages And Automata Theory

This course introduces formal languages and automata theory, covering regular sets, context-free languages, and recursively enumerable sets. Students will learn formalisms for generating these languages and machines for recognizing them. The course explores computability and complexity theory, focusing on the capabilities and limitations of computers. Topics include applications to programming languages, algorithms, natural language processing, and hardware/software design, providing a foundation for compiler construction and computational analysis.

Generate AI Study Notes

Transform this course into personalized study materials with AI

208h
Study Time
13
Weeks
16h
Per Week
intermediate
Math Level
Course Keywords
Formal LanguagesAutomata TheoryTuring MachinesContext-Free GrammarsRegular Expressions

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📊
Math Level
Moderate Math
🔬
Learning Type
Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Alphabets and Strings

2

Formal Grammars

3

Formal Languages

4

Automata Theory

5

Regular Languages

6

Context-Free Languages

7

Turing Machines

Total Topics7 topics

Requirements

Knowledge and skills recommended for success

CIT 331

💡 Don't have all requirements? Don't worry! Many students successfully complete this course with basic preparation and dedication.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Compiler Engineer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Software Developer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Systems Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Natural Language Processing Engineer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Algorithm Designer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

Software DevelopmentCompiler DesignNatural Language ProcessingArtificial IntelligenceCybersecurity

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: General Concepts

8h

Unit 1: Alphabets, Strings, and Representations

8 study hours
  • •Read the introduction to alphabets, strings, and representations.
  • •Understand the definitions of alphabet, words, and strings.
  • •Explore the various operations that can be carried out on these structures.
  • •Learn how to represent alphabets and strings.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise I.
Week
2

Module 1: General Concepts

15h

Unit 2: Formal Grammars

8 study hours
  • •Define formal grammar and its components.
  • •State the types of formal grammars.
  • •Describe the class of automata that can recognize strings generated by each grammar.
  • •Identify strings generated by a particular grammar.
  • •Explain the Chomsky hierarchy.
  • •Relate formal grammar and language to computer programming.

Unit 3: Formal Languages

7 study hours
  • •Define formal languages and their rules.
  • •Define word over an alphabet.
  • •Give examples of formal languages.
  • •Perform basic operations on languages.
  • •Explain the relevance of formal language to computer programming.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Questions.
Week
3

Module 1: General Concepts

8h

Unit 4: Automata Theory

8 study hours
  • •Define an automaton and automata theory.
  • •Describe types/classes of automata.
  • •Explain the operation of an automaton.
  • •Study the relationship between automata theory and formal language theory.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Questions.
Week
4

Module 2: Regular Languages

8h

Unit 1: Finite State Automata

8 study hours
  • •Describe Finite State Automata (FSA).
  • •Formally define deterministic and nondeterministic Finite State Automata.
  • •Give an algorithm for the operations of a DFA.
  • •Describe ways of implementing DFAs and NFAs.
  • •Watch videos for illustration.
Week
5

Module 2: Regular Languages

8h

Unit 2: Regular Expressions

8 study hours
  • •Define regular expressions.
  • •State the rules for creating additional regular expressions.
  • •State the precedence of the rules.
  • •Describe the three ways of defining a language.
  • •Convert regular expressions to DFAs and NFAs and vice versa.
  • •Complete Self Assessment I.
Week
6

Module 2: Regular Languages

8h

Unit 3: Regular Grammars

8 study hours
  • •Define regular grammars.
  • •Classify grammars.
  • •Show the connection between right-linear grammars and NFAs.
  • •Construct a right-linear grammar from a left-linear grammar.
  • •Distinguish between right-linear grammars from left-linear grammars.
  • •Relate regular grammars to DFAs, NFAs, and regular expressions.
Week
7

Module 2: Regular Languages

8h

Unit 4: Closure Properties of Regular Languages

8 study hours
  • •Enumerate the closure properties of regular languages.
  • •Describe the steps to follow in applying each of these properties.
  • •State the standard ways in which regular languages can be represented.
  • •Prove the finiteness or otherwise of a language L.
  • •Prove that a string belongs to a language.
  • •Prove the equivalence of two languages.
Week
8

Module 2: Regular Languages

8h

Unit 5: The Pumping Lemma

8 study hours
  • •Define pigeon hole.
  • •Explain the pigeon hole principle.
  • •State the pumping lemma.
  • •State the use of the pumping lemma.
  • •Apply the pumping lemma to regular languages.
  • •Complete Tutor-Marked Assignment.
Week
9

Module 3: Context-Free Languages

8h

Unit 1: Context-Free Grammars

8 study hours
  • •Define context-free grammars.
  • •Distinguish between regular grammars and context-free grammars.
  • •Determine strings generated by a context-free grammar.
  • •Watch videos for more understanding.
  • •Complete Tutor-Marked Assignment.
Week
10

Module 3: Context-Free Languages

8h

Unit 2: Properties of Context-Free Languages

8 study hours
  • •State the properties of CFL.
  • •State the pumping lemma for CFL.
  • •Use the pumping lemma for CFL.
  • •Determine when a grammar is ambiguous.
  • •Define syntax tree.
  • •Complete Self Assessment Exercise I.
Week
11

Module 3: Context-Free Languages

8h

Unit 3: Pushdown Automata

8 study hours
  • •Describe a pushdown automata.
  • •Distinguish PDAs from FSAs.
  • •Formally define a PDA.
  • •Compare a DPDA and an NPDA.
  • •Complete Self Assessment II.
Week
12

Module 4: Turing Machines

8h

Unit 1: Turing Machines and the rest

8 study hours
  • •Define a Turing machine.
  • •Distinguish between Turing machine and other classes of machines.
  • •Describe the best way to code a Turing machine.
  • •Complete Tutor-Marked Assignment.
Week
13

Module 4: Turing Machines

15h

Unit 2: Turing Machines and Context-Sensitive Grammars

8 study hours
  • •Define context-sensitive grammars.
  • •Distinguish context-sensitive grammars from others.
  • •Briefly explain the halting problem.
  • •State Godel's incompleteness theorem.
  • •Define unsolvable and undecidable with respect to TM.
  • •Complete Tutor-Marked Assignment.

Unit 3: Unrestricted Grammars

7 study hours
  • •Define unrestricted grammars.
  • •Demonstrate the relationship between Turing machines and unrestricted grammars.
  • •Complete Tutor-Marked Assignment.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

Access PDF Material

Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create concept maps linking Modules 1-4 core concepts.

2

Practice converting between regular expressions, NFAs, and DFAs.

3

Focus on applying the pumping lemma to prove non-regularity.

4

Review context-free grammar construction and parsing techniques.

5

Study Turing machine design and the halting problem.

Related Courses

Other courses in Sciences that complement your learning

ESM343

Climate Change And Environment

2 Units
ESM342

Environmental Impact Assessment And Auditing

3 Units
CIT310

Algorithms and Complexity Analysis

2 Units
View All Sciences Courses