Table of Contents

Probabilistic Aspects of Computer Science (60h, 7 ECTS)

Coordination: Serge Haddad (LMF, ENS Paris-Saclay)

Instructors

Motivation and Main Objectives

Probability occurs more and more often in computer science both to address the modelling and simulation of systems where the specification is incomplete, to design efficient (yet simple) algorithms, to study the robustness of security protocols agains attack, etc. The goal of this course is to cover several of these aspects in order to show the versatility of the probability applied to computer science. Every part of this course is intended to be a introduction revealing ideas, principles and techniques while more elaborated techniques will be described in M2 courses.

Prerequisites

Part 1: Markovian Models

Handout

Page of the practical sessions

Part 2: Randomized Algorithms & Random Structures

Date Topic Reading Handout In-Class Problems Homework
Nov. 6, 2023 Markov, Chebyshev Chapters 1-3 Lecture 1 1.6, 1.12, 3.12, 3.18, 3.19, 3.26 1.5, 2.13, 2.16, 2.32
Nov. 13, 2023 Chernoff, Balls into Bins Chapters 4-5 & 17.1 Lecture 2 4.7, 4.9, 4.12, 5.3, 17.2 Exploratory Assignment 5.8
Nov. 20, 2023 Probabilistic Method Chapter 6 Lecture 3 6.3, 6.8, 6.11, 6.14, 6.15 6.4, 6.10, 6.19, 6.20
Nov. 27, 2023 Birth of the Giant Component The giant component: the golden anniversary
Erdős-Rényi Random Graphs: The Giant Component
Lecture 4
Dec. 4, 2023 Normal Distribution Chapter 9 Lecture 5 9.2, 9.9, 9.13, 9.14 9.6, 9.12, 9.15
Dec. 11, 2023 Entropy Chapter 10 Lecture 6 10.1, 10.4, 10.10, 10.15, 10.16 10.3, 10.12, 10.17
Dec. 18, 2023 Sample Complexity Chapter 14 Lecture 7 14.1, 14.6, 14.8, 14.9-14.10 14.2, 14.3-14.5, 14.7, 14.13
Jan. 8, 2024 Exam Preparation - - - -
Jan. 15, 2024 Final Exam - - - -

Bibliography

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