FORMAL METHODS

Brief Course Description

This course presents some formal notations that are commonly used for the description of computation and computing systems, for the specification of software and for mathematically rigorous arguments about program properties.

Course Objectives

The aims of this course are:

• To introduce students to the mathematical notation and terminology used in formal specification

• To equip students with knowledge of the fundamental principles in formal methods including laws and theorems

• To equip students with an understanding of techniques and procedures required to solve practical problems

• To impart programming skills by writing numerical programs required to solve the practical problems mentioned above

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course students shall be able to:

i) Demonstrate knowledge including the mathematical notation and terminology of formal methods

ii) Describe the fundamental principles including laws and theorems arising from formal methods concepts

iii) Apply formal techniques and procedures to solve practical problems

iv) Demonstrate programming skills by writing numerical programs, (e.g. Matlab) to solve practical problems