Instructor: Shengyu Zhang

Time and venue for lectures:

• Monday 2:30pm - 5:15pm, William M W Mong Engineering Building (ERB) 406

TA:

• Shuai Li, office: HSH 117, office hours: Wednesday 2-4pm.

Textbook:

• Analysis of Boolean Functions. Ryan O'Donnell, Cambridge University Press, 2014.
  
  "Boolean functions are perhaps the most basic objects of study in theoretical computer science. They also arise in other areas of mathematics, including combinatorics, statistical physics, and mathematical social choice. The field of analysis of Boolean functions seeks to understand them via their Fourier transform and other analytic methods. This text gives a thorough overview of the field, beginning with the most basic definitions and proceeding to advanced topics such as hypercontractivity and isoperimetry. Each chapter includes a "highlight application" such as Arrow's theorem from economics, the Goldreich-Levin algorithm from cryptography/learning theory, Håstad's NP-hardness of approximation results, and "sharp threshold" theorems for random graph properties." 

Grading:

• Homework assignments (50%)
• Reading project (50%)

Student/Faculty Expectations on Teaching and Learning