Table of Contents
Computer Science Fundamentals
Mithat Konar
What is computer science?
What is computer science?
- computer science: The science of what can be computed.
- computational science
- What is computation?
Major branches of computer science
- algorithms
- theory of computation
- computer architecture
- software systems
- artificial intelligence4)
Computer science topics
- computer graphics
- databases
- networks and protocols
- numerical methods
- operating systems
- parallel computing
- simulation and modeling
- software engineering.5)
Application fields
What about programming?
Algorithms
- The word algorithm is derived from the name of 9th-century mathematician and astronomer Al-Khwarizmi.
- Worked under the caliphate of al-Ma'mun in Baghdad.
- Also introduced “al-jabr”, which in English is called “algebra”. (The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing)
- First appears in European texts in 17th century.
- Modern usage in 19th century.
Algorithms
Algorithm example
- “Long” cardinal number multiplication:
A * B
let C equal 0
repeat the following B times:
add A to C
the desired result is C
What is a computer?
Hardware
- The physical stuff.
Software
- computer software: a set of program instructions and its related data and documentation that can be executed by computer.
Kinds of software
Fin
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1)
Merriam-Webster. Accessed July 25, 2016. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/computer science.
2)
“Definition of Computer Science in English:” Computer Science: Definition of Computer Science in Oxford Dictionary (American English) (US). Accessed July 25, 2016. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/computer-science?q=computer science.
3)
, 4)
, 5)
“UB - University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.” What Is Computer Science? Accessed July 25, 2016. http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/undergrad/what_is_CS.php.
6)
From Charles Dierbach, Introduction to Computer Science Using Python: A Computational Problem-solving Focus (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2013).
7)
Merriam-Webster. Accessed July 25, 2016. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/algorithm.
8)
“Definition of algorithm in English:” Computer Science: Definition of Computer Science in Oxford Dictionary (American English) (US). Accessed July 25, 2016. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/algorithm.