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Discrete Math for Computer Science - Logic & Set Theory

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Discrete Math for Computer Science - Logic & Set Theory

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

9 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

9 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Apply counting techniques to compute possibilities in algorithms and data structures.

  • Apply rules of inference and proof techniques to verify correctness of statements.

  • Use sets, relations, and functions to represent and analyse computational structures.

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Recently updated!

February 2026

Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Discrete Mathematical Tools for Computer Science Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 5 modules in this course

This course introduces the foundational concepts of discrete mathematics that are essential for computer science, with a focus on logic, formal reasoning, and set theory. Discrete mathematics studies structures that are non-continuous and symbolic, making it the natural mathematical language of computation.

You will begin by learning propositional and predicate logic, developing the ability to translate natural-language statements into precise formal expressions. The course covers logical operators, equivalence, quantifiers, and rules of inference, providing the tools needed to construct and evaluate rigorous arguments and proofs. The course then introduces set theory and functions, which form the backbone of data modeling and abstraction in computer science. Topics include set operations, relations, functions, and cardinality, along with their close connections to logical reasoning. Emphasizing understanding and problem-solving over memorization, this course builds the mathematical maturity required for algorithm design, program correctness, and advanced topics in the specialization.

This module introduces the foundations of discrete math through logic and set theory. Students learn to reason rigorously with statements, solve classic puzzles like knights and knaves, and manipulate collections of objects using set operations and Venn diagrams. It builds essential reasoning skills for consistent rule design, data modeling, and correct algorithm foundations in computer science.

What's included

1 video2 readings

1 videoβ€’Total 6 minutes
  • Introduction to Discrete Mathematicsβ€’6 minutes
2 readingsβ€’Total 20 minutes
  • Introduction to Discrete Mathematicsβ€’10 minutes
  • Introduction to Discrete Math for Computer Science (Logic & Set Theory)β€’10 minutes

Propositional logic studies logical statements that are either true or false and how they can be combined using logical connectives. This topic introduces propositions, truth values, compound statements, truth tables, and logical equivalences, forming the basis for precise reasoning, digital circuits, and formal proofs.

What's included

20 videos1 reading1 assignment

20 videosβ€’Total 48 minutes
  • Propositional logic Overviewβ€’1 minute
  • L01-01 What is Logic?β€’4 minutes
  • Propositions_ Introβ€’1 minute
  • (Optional) Propositions_ Exampleβ€’1 minute
  • Compound Propositions_ Introβ€’1 minute
  • Compound Propositions_ Logical Operator and Truth Tableβ€’3 minutes
  • Compound Propositions_ Conditional Statement and Biconditional Statement, Necessary and sufficient conditionsβ€’6 minutes
  • Compound Propositions_ Conditional Statement in Eng and Exampleβ€’1 minute
  • Compound Propositions_ Converse, Inverse, Contrapositiveβ€’3 minutes
  • Compound Propositions_ Precedence of Logical Operatorsβ€’1 minute
  • Propositional Equivalences_ Tautology and Contradictionβ€’1 minute
  • Propositional Equivalences_ Logical Equivalenceβ€’2 minutes
  • (Optional) InclassExβ€’6 minutes
  • Propositional Equivalences_ The use of ≑,↔,=β€’4 minutes
  • Propositional Equivalences_ De Morgan’s lawsβ€’3 minutes
  • (Optional) Propositional Equivalences_ Logical Equivalence Example1β€’1 minute
  • (Optional) Propositional Equivalences_ Logical Equivalence Example2β€’2 minutes
  • (Optional) Propositional Equivalences_ Logical Equivalence Example3β€’3 minutes
  • (Optional) Propositional Equivalences_ Logical Equivalence Example4β€’1 minute
  • Propositional Equivalences_ Revisit the Knight and Knave puzzleβ€’5 minutes
1 readingβ€’Total 30 minutes
  • Propositional Logicβ€’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ€’Total 20 minutes
  • Quiz 1β€’20 minutes

Predicate logic extends propositional logic by incorporating variables and quantifiers to express statements about collections of objects. It enables more expressive reasoning using predicates, universal and existential quantifiers, restricted domains, and nested quantifiers, allowing formal modeling of real-world and mathematical statements.

What's included

23 videos1 reading1 assignment

23 videosβ€’Total 88 minutes
  • Predicate Logic Overviewβ€’3 minutes
  • Predicate Logic (First-order logic) - Introβ€’2 minutes
  • Predicates_Definition & Examplesβ€’2 minutes
  • Quantifiers_Universal Quantification & Domainβ€’2 minutes
  • (Optional) Quantifiers_Example1β€’4 minutes
  • Quantifiers_Universal and Existential Quantifiersβ€’3 minutes
  • (Optional) Quantifiers_Example2β€’2 minutes
  • (Optional) InclassExβ€’10 minutes
  • Quantifiers with Restricted domains_Restricted Domainsβ€’2 minutes
  • Quantifiers with Restricted Domains_Explanationβ€’10 minutes
  • Quantifiers with Restricted Domains_Precedence of Quantifiers & Binding Variablesβ€’3 minutes
  • Logical Equivalences involving Quantifiers_Logical Equivalenceβ€’4 minutes
  • Negating Quantified Expressions_De Morgan's Laws for Quantifiersβ€’4 minutes
  • (Optional) Negating Quantified Expressions_Examplesβ€’2 minutes
  • Nested Quantifiers_Introβ€’4 minutes
  • Nested Quantifiers_Order of Quantifiersβ€’6 minutes
  • Nested Quantifiers_Quantifications of Two Variablesβ€’4 minutes
  • (Optional) Nested Quantifiers_Exampleβ€’2 minutes
  • Nested Quantifiers_Translating into Engβ€’3 minutes
  • Null Quantifications_Introβ€’3 minutes
  • (Optional) Null Quantifications_Example1β€’6 minutes
  • (Optional) Null Quantifications_Example2β€’7 minutes
  • Further Example & Negating Nested Quantifiersβ€’2 minutes
1 readingβ€’Total 30 minutes
  • Predicate-Logicβ€’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ€’Total 30 minutes
  • Quiz 2β€’30 minutes

This topic focuses on formal reasoning through valid arguments and proofs. It introduces rules of inference for propositional and predicate logic and covers fundamental proof techniques such as direct proof, proof by contraposition, and proof by contradiction, which are essential for verifying mathematical and computational claims.

What's included

28 videos1 reading1 assignment

28 videosβ€’Total 83 minutes
  • πŸ”΄Inference Overviewβ€’2 minutes
  • Inference Introductionβ€’2 minutes
  • Rules of Inference_Introβ€’2 minutes
  • Rules of Inference_Argumentβ€’1 minute
  • Rules of Inference_Rules of Inference for Propositional Logicβ€’4 minutes
  • (Optional) Rules of Inference_Rules of Inference for Propositional Logic_Example1 & 2β€’2 minutes
  • (Optional) Rules of Inference_Rules of Inference for Propositional Logic_Example3β€’2 minutes
  • Rules of Inference_Rules of Inference for Propositional Logic_Invalid Argumentβ€’1 minute
  • Rules of Inference_Rules of Inference for Predicate Logic_Intro & Example1β€’2 minutes
  • (Optional) Rules of Inference_Rules of Inference for Predicate Logic_Example2β€’3 minutes
  • (Optional) Rules of Inference_Rules of Inference for Predicate Logic_Example3β€’2 minutes
  • Basic Proof Techniques_Some Terminology_Introβ€’1 minute
  • Basic Proof Techniques_Some Terminology_Axiomaticβ€’3 minutes
  • Basic Proof Techniques_Some Terminology_Corollary & Conjectureβ€’2 minutes
  • (Optional)Basic Proof Techniques_Direct Proof_Intro & Example1β€’1 minute
  • (Optional) Basic Proof Techniques_Direct Proof_Example2 & 3β€’2 minutes
  • Basic Proof Techniques_Direct Proof_Limitation of Direct Proofsβ€’0 minutes
  • Basic Proof Techniques_Proof by Contrapositionβ€’1 minute
  • (Optional) Basic Proof Techniques_Proof by Contraposition_Example1β€’3 minutes
  • (Optional) Basic Proof Techniques_Proof by Contraposition_Example2β€’4 minutes
  • Basic Proof Techniques_Proof by Contradictionβ€’3 minutes
  • (Optional) Basic Proof Techniques_Proof by Contradiction_Example1β€’13 minutes
  • (Optional) Basic Proof Techniques_Proof by Contradiction_Example2β€’4 minutes
  • Basic Proof Techniques_Proof by Contradiction_Proving Biconditional Statements & Exampleβ€’3 minutes
  • (Optional) Basic Proof Techniques_Proof by Contradiction_Example3β€’3 minutes
  • Some comments on proofsβ€’3 minutes
  • Theorems and Proofsβ€’3 minutes
  • (Optional) InclassExβ€’9 minutes
1 readingβ€’Total 30 minutes
  • Inferenceβ€’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ€’Total 30 minutes
  • Quiz 3β€’30 minutes

This topic introduces sets as collections of objects and functions as mappings between sets. It covers set notation, subsets, power sets, Cartesian products, cardinality, and basic properties of functions, providing essential tools for modeling data structures, relations, and mathematical abstractions in computer science.

What's included

28 videos1 reading1 assignment

28 videosβ€’Total 101 minutes
  • Sets-Functions Overviewβ€’3 minutes
  • Sets_Set & Set Builderβ€’2 minutes
  • Sets_Some Important Setsβ€’1 minute
  • Sets_Empty Set and Singleton Setβ€’1 minute
  • Sets_Set Equalityβ€’1 minute
  • Sets_Subsetβ€’3 minutes
  • Sets_Proper Subset, Cardinality of Finite Sets & Power Setβ€’1 minute
  • Sets_Ordered Tupleβ€’1 minute
  • Sets_Cartesian Product & Relationβ€’7 minutes
  • Sets_Union & Intersectionβ€’2 minutes
  • Sets_Union, Intersection, and Cardinalityβ€’6 minutes
  • Sets_Difference and Complementβ€’2 minutes
  • Sets_Set Identities and Logic Equivalencesβ€’3 minutes
  • Functions_Function & Examplesβ€’8 minutes
  • Functions_Injective Function & Surjective Functionβ€’5 minutes
  • Functions_Bijectionβ€’8 minutes
  • Functions_Inverse Function & Exampleβ€’4 minutes
  • Functions_Composition & Exampleβ€’1 minute
  • (Optional) InclassExβ€’4 minutes
  • Cardinality of Sets_Hilbert’s Grand Hotelβ€’1 minute
  • Cardinality of Sets_Cardinality of Infinite Setsβ€’3 minutes
  • (Optional) Cardinality of Sets_Cardinality of Infinite Sets_Exampleβ€’4 minutes
  • Cardinality of Sets_Q is countable & Stringβ€’3 minutes
  • Cardinality of Sets_R is uncountableβ€’5 minutes
  • Cardinality of Sets_Compare infinite setsβ€’7 minutes
  • Cardinality of Sets_The Contiuum Hypothesis & Schroder-Bernstein Theoremβ€’3 minutes
  • Cardinality of Sets_S smaller than P(S)β€’10 minutes
  • Cardinality of Sets_Uncomputable functionsβ€’4 minutes
1 readingβ€’Total 30 minutes
  • Sets-Functionsβ€’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ€’Total 20 minutes
  • Quiz 4β€’20 minutes

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Instructor

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
11 Coursesβ€’230,786 learners

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