Probability and Computing:  2017-2018

Overview

The active page of the course is at https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/elias.koutsoupias/pc2017-18/index.html. This page here will not be updated during the course.

This course will be examined by a take-home examination.

In this course we study applications of probabilistic techniques to computer science, focusing on randomised algorithms and the probabilistic analysis of algorithms. Randomisation and probabilistic techniques have applications ranging from communication protocols, combinatorial optimisation, computational geometry, data structures, networks and machine learning. Randomised algorithms, which typically guarantee a correct result only with high probability, are often simpler and faster than corresponding deterministic algorithms. Randomisation can also be used to break symmetry and achieve load balancing in parallel and distributed computing. This course introduces students to those ideas in probability that are most relevant to computer science. This background theory is motivated and illustrated by a wide-ranging series of applications.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students are expected to

• Understand basic concepts and tools in probability theory that are relevant to computing, including random variables, independence, moments and deviations, tail inequalities, occupancy problems, the probabilistic method, derandomisation and Markov chains.
• Be able to use the above tools to devise and analyse randomised algorithms and carry out the probabilistic analysis of deterministic algorithms.
• Understand some of the main paradigms in the design of randomised algorithms, including random sampling, random walks, random rounding, algebraic techniques, foiling the adversary and amplification.

Prerequisites

Exposure to probability theory, discrete mathematics, algorithms and linear algebra will be assumed.  Specific concepts that will be assumed include discrete probability spaces, the principle of inclusion-exclusion, conditional probability, random variables, expectation, basic graph theory, the binomial theorem, finite fields, power series, sorting algorithms, asymptotic notation, vector spaces, linear transformations, matrices and determinants.  Graduate students who have not taken a course in algorithms will not be at a significant disadvantage. Diligent students lacking some of the required background but willing to acquaint themselves with the necessary material are encouraged to contact the lecturer to discuss their situation prior to registering for this course.

Synopsis

The material will be mostly drawn from the course text "Probability and Computing", by Mitzenmacher and Upfal. Supplementary material is also taken from the book "Randomized Algorithms" by Motwani and Raghavan. It is expected that the following will be covered:

Events and Probability: Verifying matrix multiplication.
Polynomial Identity Testing: Schwartz-Zippel lemma, isolating lemma, bipartite matching.
Min-Cuts in Graphs.
Random Variables and Expectation: Coupon collector, randomised Quicksort.
Moments and Deviations: Chebyshev, median finding.
Chernoff Bounds: Las Vegas and Monte Carlo algorithms, set balancing, facility location, linear programming relaxations, random rounding, permutation routing.
Pairwise Independence: finding cuts, derandomisation, sampling.
Markov Chains: Random-walk algorithms for 2-SAT, 3-SAT, random-walks on graphs. 
Balls and Bins: Poisson approximation, occupancy problems, Bloom filters.
The Monte Carlo Method: DNF counting, importance sampling.
Pairwise Independence: finding cuts, derandomisation, sampling.
Universal Hashing: universal hash functions, perfect hashing, count-min filters.
The Probabilistic Method: Derandomisation, lower bounds for set balancing, Lovasz local lemma.
Markov Chain Coupling: Metropolis Algorithm, variation distance, mixing times.

Syllabus

Tools and Techniques: random variables; conditional expectation; moment bounds; tail inequalities; independence; coupon collection and occupancy problems; the probabilistic method; Markov chains and random walks; algebraic techniques; probability amplification and derandomisation.

Applications: Sorting and searching; graph algorithms; combinatorial optimisation; propositional satisfiability; hashing; routing; random sampling; DNF-counting; bloom filters, count-min filters.

Reading list

Required text:

• Probability and Computing, by Michael Mitzenmacher and Eli Upfal, Cambridge University Press.

Also useful:

• Randomized Algorithms, by Rajeev Motwani and Prabhakar Raghavan, Cambridge University Press.  
• Design and Analysis of Randomized Algorithms, by Juraj Hromkovic, Springer.

Taking our courses

This form is not to be used by students studying for a degree in the Department of Computer Science, or for Visiting Students who are registered for Computer Science courses

Other matriculated University of Oxford students who are interested in taking this, or other, courses in the Department of Computer Science, must complete this online form by 17.00 on Friday of 0th week of term in which the course is taught. Late requests, and requests sent by email, will not be considered. All requests must be approved by the relevant Computer Science departmental committee and can only be submitted using this form.