UNIVERSITY OF KERALA - Marian Engineering College

B.Tech Comp. Sc. & Engg., University of Kerala 53
08.603 FORMAL LANGUAGES AND AUTOMATA THEORY 3 – 1 – 0
Module I (18 hours)
Introduction to theory of computation, Finite state automata – description of finite automata, Properties of
transition functions, Designing finite automata, NFA, 2 way finite automata, equivalence of NFA and DFA,
Mealy and Moor machine, finite automata with epsilon moves, Regular sets and regular grammars, regular
expressions, pumping lemma for regular languages, closure properties of regular sets and regular grammars,
Application of finite automata, Decision algorithms for regular sets, Minimization of FSA.
Module II (16 hours)
Chomsky classification of languages, CFGs, Derivation trees, ambiguity, simplification of CFLs, normal
forms of CFGs, pumping lemma for CFGs, decision algorithms for CFGs, designing CFGs, PDA – formal
definition, examples of PDA, equivalence with CFGs, PDA and CFG, Chomsky hierarchy.
Module III (18 hours)
Turing machines basics and formal definition, Language acceptability by TM, examples of TM, variants of
TMs – multitape TM, NDTM, Universal Turing Machine, offline TMs, Equivalence of single tape and
multitape TMs, recursive and recursively enumerable languages, decidable and undecidable problems –
examples, halting problem, reducibility.
Text Books:
1. Introduction to automata theory, languages and computation – J.E. Hopcroft , R. Motwani and J.D. Ullman,
Addison Wesley
Reference Books:
1. Introduction to the Theory of Computation, 2 nd Edn – Michael Sipser, Thomson Publishing
2. Mathematical theory of computation – Manna, McGraw Hill
3. Introduction to automata theory and formal languages – Peter Linz, Narosa Publishing
4. Switching and Finite automata theory – Kohavi, Tata McGraw Hill
Internal Continuous Assessment (Maximum Marks-50)
25 Marks - Tests (minimum 2)
15 Marks - Assignments (minimum 3) such as home work, problem solving, literature survey, seminar,
term-project, software exercises, etc.
10 Marks - Regularity in the class
University Examination Pattern
PART A: Short answer questions 10 x 4 marks=40 marks
All questions are compulsory. There should be at least three questions
from each module and not more than four questions from any module.
PART B: Descriptive/Analytical/Problem solving questions 3 x 20 marks=60 marks
Candidates have to answer one question out of two or two questions
out of four from each module
Maximum Total Marks: 100