mathematical theory of computation zohar manna pdf 19
Mathematical Theory of Computation by Zohar Manna: A Review
If you are interested in learning about the foundations of computer science, you may have come across the book Mathematical Theory of Computation by Zohar Manna. This book is a classic text that covers various topics in logic, computability, programming languages and program verification. But what exactly is this book about? Who is Zohar Manna and why is his work important? And is this book still relevant and useful today? In this article, we will try to answer these questions by providing a comprehensive review of the book.
Introduction
The mathematical theory of computation is a branch of computer science that studies the fundamental concepts and principles that underlie computation, such as algorithms, languages, machines, models, complexity, decidability, correctness and so on. It aims to answer questions such as: What can be computed? How can we compute it? How efficiently can we compute it? How can we prove that our computations are correct? These questions are not only theoretical but also practical, as they have implications for the design, analysis and implementation of software systems.
Zohar Manna is a professor emeritus of computer science at Stanford University. He is one of the pioneers and leading experts in the field of formal methods, which is the use of mathematical techniques for specifying, verifying and synthesizing software systems. He has made significant contributions to various areas such as automated deduction, temporal logic, reactive systems, hybrid systems and program synthesis. He has authored or co-authored several books on these topics, including The Calculus of Computation, Temporal Verification of Reactive Systems and Deductive Foundations of Computer Programming.
The book Mathematical Theory of Computation was first published in 1974 by McGraw-Hill and was reprinted in 2003 by Dover Publications. It is one of the earliest and most comprehensive books on the subject. The main goal of the book is to provide a rigorous and systematic introduction to the mathematical theory of computation, with an emphasis on logic, programming and verification. The book is divided into three parts: Foundations, Logic Programming and Program Verification. Each part consists of several chapters that cover a specific topic in depth. The book also includes exercises and solutions for each chapter, as well as references and bibliographical notes.
Summary of the book
Part I: Foundations
The first part of the book covers the basic concepts and notation of logic, sets, relations, functions, languages and automata. It also introduces the notion of computability and decidability, which are central to the mathematical theory of computation. It then discusses the Church-Turing thesis, which states that any effectively computable function can be computed by a Turing machine, and its implications for the limits of computation. It also presents the halting problem, which is an example of an undecidable problem, and other undecidable problems such as the Post correspondence problem and the word problem for groups. Finally, it introduces the concept of reducibility and its applications for classifying problems according to their computational difficulty.
Part II: Logic Programming
The second part of the book covers the syntax and semantics of first-order logic, which is a powerful and expressive language for representing and reasoning about mathematical objects and properties. It also introduces the resolution method for automated theorem proving, which is a technique for deriving logical consequences from a set of axioms and rules. It then describes the Prolog programming language and its features, such as unification, backtracking, recursion and lists. Prolog is an example of a logic programming language, which is a paradigm that uses logic as both a programming language and a database. It also shows how logic programming can be used for knowledge representation and reasoning, such as in natural language processing, artificial intelligence and expert systems.
Part III: Program Verification
The third part of the book covers the specification and verification of programs using Hoare logic, which is a formal system for reasoning about the correctness of imperative programs. It also introduces the use of invariants, preconditions, postconditions and loop variants, which are logical formulas that describe the properties of programs and their execution. It then shows how to verify recursive programs using induction, which is a method for proving statements that hold for all natural numbers or other recursively defined structures. Finally, it extends the verification techniques to concurrent programs using temporal logic, which is a logic that can express properties of sequences of events or states over time.
Evaluation of the book
Strengths
The book has several strengths that make it a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn about the mathematical theory of computation. Some of these strengths are:
The book covers a wide range of topics in mathematical theory of computation, from basic concepts to advanced applications. It provides a comprehensive overview of the field and its connections to other areas of computer science.
The book provides rigorous proofs and examples for each concept. It does not shy away from presenting formal definitions, lemmas, theorems and corollaries. It also illustrates each concept with concrete examples that demonstrate its usefulness and relevance.
The book uses a clear and consistent notation and style. It defines each symbol and term before using it and follows a uniform notation throughout the book. It also uses a clear and concise language that avoids unnecessary jargon or ambiguity.
The book includes exercises and solutions for each chapter. The exercises are designed to test the understanding and application of the concepts covered in the chapter. The solutions are detailed and explain each step of the reasoning.
Weaknesses
The book also has some weaknesses that may limit its appeal or usefulness for some readers. Some of these weaknesses are:
The book assumes some prior knowledge of mathematics and computer science. It does not provide much background or motivation for some topics or concepts. It also uses some advanced or specialized techniques or results without much explanation or justification.
The book is outdated in some aspects and does not cover some recent developments. The book was written in 1974 and reprinted in 2003 without any major revisions or updates. It does not reflect some of the current trends or challenges in mathematical theory of computation, such as quantum computing, probabilistic computing, complexity theory, model checking or program synthesis.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mathematical Theory of Computation by Zohar Manna is a classic book that provides a rigorous and systematic introduction to the mathematical theory of computation, with an emphasis on logic, programming and verification. The book covers a wide range of topics, from basic concepts to advanced applications, and provides formal proofs and examples for each concept. The book also uses a clear and consistent notation and style, and includes exercises and solutions for each chapter. However, the book also assumes some prior knowledge of mathematics and computer science, and does not cover some recent developments or challenges in the field. The book is also dense and difficult to read for beginners or non-specialists. Therefore, we recommend this book for anyone who has a strong background and interest in mathematical theory of computation, and who wants to learn more about the foundations and principles of computation, logic, programming and verification.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the book and their answers.
What is the difference between computability and decidability?
Computability is the property of a function or a problem that can be computed or solved by an algorithm or a machine. Decidability is the property of a logical statement or a problem that can be proven or disproven by an algorithm or a machine. For example, the function that computes the factorial of a natural number is computable, but the statement that there are infinitely many prime numbers is decidable.
What is the Church-Turing thesis?
The Church-Turing thesis is a hypothesis that states that any effectively computable function can be computed by a Turing machine, which is a simple and abstract model of computation. The thesis implies that there is no more powerful model of computation than a Turing machine, and that any function that cannot be computed by a Turing machine is uncomputable.
What is the halting problem?
The halting problem is an example of an undecidable problem. It asks whether there exists an algorithm or a machine that can determine whether any given algorithm or machine will eventually halt or run forever on any given input. The answer is no, there is no such algorithm or machine that can solve the halting problem for all possible algorithms or machines and inputs.
What is Prolog?
Prolog is an example of a logic programming language, which is a paradigm that uses logic as both a programming language and a database. Prolog programs consist of facts and rules that describe the relationships between objects and properties. Prolog programs can be executed by querying for goals that can be derived from the facts and rules using logical inference.
What is Hoare logic?
Hoare logic is a formal system for reasoning about the correctness of imperative programs. Hoare logic uses assertions that describe the state of the program before and after each statement. Hoare logic also uses rules that specify how each statement affects the state of the program. Hoare logic can be used to prove that a program meets its specification, which is given by a precondition and a postcondition.