Computability and Complexity Theory (Texts in Computer Science)

By Alan L. Selman and Steven Homer

Book Overview

This revised and extensively expanded edition of Computability and Complexity Theory comprises essential materials that are core knowledge in the theory of computation. The book is self-contained, with a preliminary chapter describing key mathematical concepts and notations. Subsequent chapters move from the qualitative aspects of classical computability theory to the quantitative aspects of complexity theory. Dedicated chapters on undecidability, NP-completeness, and relative computability focus on the limitations of computability and the distinctions between feasible and intractable. Substantial new content in this edition includes:

a chapter on nonuniformity studying Boolean circuits, advice classes and the important result of Karp─Lipton.a chapter studying properties of the fundamental probabilistic complexity classesa study of the alternating Turing machine and uniform circuit classes. an introduction of counting classes, proving the famous results of Valiant and Vazirani and of Todaa thorough treatment of the proof that IP is identical to PSPACE

With its accessibility and well-devised organization, this text/reference is an excellent resource and guide for those looking to develop a solid grounding in the theory of computing. Beginning graduates, advanced undergraduates, and professionals involved in theoretical computer science, complexity theory, and computability will find the book an essential andpractical learning tool.

Topics and features:

Concise, focused materials cover the most fundamental concepts and results in the field of modern complexity theory, including the theory of NP-completeness, NP-hardness, the polynomial hierarchy, and complete problems for other complexity classes Contains information that otherwise exists only in research literature and presents it in a unified, simplified mannerProvides key mathematical background information, including sections on logic and number theory and algebra Supported by numerous exercises and supplementary problems for reinforcement and self-study purposes

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1489989714
• ISBN13: 9781489989710
• Release Date: March 2014
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Computability and Complexity Theory is Complex

Computability and Complexity Theory (Texts in Computer Science) This book is dense, in the sense that there is a lot of information explained using very few words, which means you have to do some thinking to get anything out of it. You have to make sure you have a firm grasp on each concept before you go on, because they just keep building on each other. There's nothing necessarily bad about the book; but for the purpose of the class that I read the book for, it could have offered a little more by way of explanation and reminders, to help the student learn and understand what it was talking about.

In fact, it is a great and concise book on the subject

This book is aimed as an introductory text book on computer science theory. The book is suited for both undergraduate and graduate studies. I would have never expected a book of only a few pages to cover computability and complexity theory basics from introductory undergraduate to early graduate levels. This is because, the author focusses only on core concepts and strives to make them as clear and concise as possible using the power of the mathematical language. It explains the hard theory and logic by easy sentences and words. Even if you use English as foreign language you can read this book by yourself and understand its contents easily having a good background on mathematical language and mathematical thought.