Introduction to

Theory of
Computation
(TOC)
Exploring the Foundations of Computing Systems
Prepared by: Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal
Date: 17-NOV-2024
Advance Engineering College(TU)

1
Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College
What is TOC?
 Theory of Computation (TOC) ) explores the fundamental
principles of computation i.e. the study of computation, its
capabilities, and limitations.
 the fundamental mathematical properties of computer
hardware, software and their applications
 It answers questions like 'What problems can computers solve?'
and 'How efficiently can they solve them?‘
 Computation is the movement and alteration which occurs
during the transition of data or the processing of data based
on a set of operations.
Definition:
"Theory of Computation (TOC) is the branch of computer science
that deals with how efficiently problems can be solved on a
model of computation using algorithms.“

2
Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College
The theory of computation field
is divided into three concepts

 • Key Areas of TOC:

 - Automata Theory and language : Models of
computation like finite automata and pushdown
automata
 - Computability Theory: Examines problems that can
or cannot be solved algorithmically
 - Complexity Theory: Focuses on the resources
needed (time, space) to solve problems.

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 3

Let us understand these concepts
in detail.

 1. Automated Theory and language

 It deals with the definition and properties of various
mathematical models of computers.
 For example,
 Finite Automata − These are used in compilers, hardware
design and text processing.
 Context free grammar − These are used to define the
programming languages and in artificial intelligence.
 Turing machine − These are simple abstract models of a
real computer.

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 4

 2. Computability theory
 Computability theory deals with what can and cannot be
computed by the model respectively.
 The theoretical models are proposed in order to understand the
solvable and unsolvable problems which lead to the development
of the real computers.

 3. Complexity theory
 Complexity theory groups the computable problems based on
their hardness.
 For example,
 Any problem is easy, if it is solved efficiently. For example, sorting
sequence, searching name.
 Any problem is hard, if it cannot be solved efficiently. For example,
factoring a 500-digit integer into its prime factor.
 The main purpose of theory of computation is to develop a
formal mathematical model of computation that reflects the real
world computers.
Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 5
Why Study TOC?
 Learn to design efficient algorithms:
- TOC helps identify optimal approaches to solving
computational problems.
 Understand computational limits:
- Learn what problems are unsolvable or require immense
resources.
 Develop abstract problem-solving skills:
- Build mathematical models and analyze them logically.
 Essential for advanced fields:
- Cryptography for secure communication.
- Artificial Intelligence for decision-making systems.

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 6

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 7
Core Topics in TOC
 Automata Theory: Study of abstract machines and formal
languages.
- Studies abstract machines like finite automata, pushdown
automata, and Turing machines.
- Helps in designing parsers for programming languages.
 Computability: Understanding what problems can be solved.
- Explores whether a problem can be solved algorithmically.
- Topics include the Halting Problem and recursive functions.
 Complexity: Classifying problems based on resources like time
and space.
- Classifies problems into complexity classes like P, NP, and
NP-complete.
- Helps understand practical limitations of algorithms.
Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 8
Real-World Applications of TOC
 Software Development: Parsing and compiling programming
languages.
- TOC concepts are used in designing compilers and interpreters.
- Enables efficient parsing and syntax analysis.
 Artificial Intelligence: Designing decision-making models.
- Automata models decision-making processes in robots and AI
systems.
 Cybersecurity: Developing encryption algorithms.
- Secure algorithms and cryptographic protocols are based on
complexity theory.
 Search Engines: Optimizing algorithms for searching and ranking.
Algorithmic design for web crawling and ranking relies on TOC
principles.
Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 9
Role of TOC in Computer
Engineering
 • Enhances analytical and reasoning skills:
- Develops the ability to think abstractly and solve problems
rigorously.
 • Forms the foundation for advanced computer science topics:
- Topics like machine learning, data structures, and algorithms
are grounded in TOC.
 • Helps in understanding system limitations and trade-offs:
- Understand when a problem is unsolvable or computationally
expensive.
 • Prepares for research and real-world problem-solving:
- Builds skills for innovation in emerging technologies like
quantum computing.
Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 10
The theory of computation is
applied in the following:

 Traffic lights.
 Lifts and elevators.
 Marketing.
 Compilers.
 Cloud computing.

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 11

A Quick History of TOC
 • 1936: Alan Turing introduces the Turing Machine:
- A conceptual framework for what can be computed.
 • 1956: Automata Theory formalized:
- Key contributions by Noam Chomsky and others.
 • Today:
 TOC underpins advancements in AI, cryptography, and big
data.
 Drives research in solving previously unsolvable problems.

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 12

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 13
Fun Fact: Can a Machine
Think?
 • The Turing Test:
- Proposed by Alan Turing to test a machine's ability to exhibit
intelligent behavior.
• The Turing Test is a thought experiment that evaluates a
machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable
from that of a human.
 • Question: Can you design an automaton to recognize specific
patterns?
 • Challenge:
- Can you design an automaton (finite state machine) that accepts
strings of the form 'ab*a'?

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 14

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 15
Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 16
Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 17
Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 18
SSSS

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 19

Course Expectations
 • What You Will Do:
 - Design automata for various computational problems like
language recognition.
 - Explore the boundaries of what can be computed.
 - Classify problems based on time and space complexity.
 • Skills You’ll Gain:
 - Logical reasoning to solve abstract problems.
 - Problem-solving for real-world computational challenges.
 - Algorithm design and analysis for efficient solutions.

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 20

 Embark on an
Exciting Journey!
Thank you for your attention.
Questions? Feel free to ask!
Email: jaiswalraviranj@gmail.com

Prepared by Er. Ravi Ranjan Jaiswal , Advance Engineering College 21