The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Discrete Math for Computer Science - Algorithms & Recursion

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Discrete Math for Computer Science - Algorithms & Recursion

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

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Analyse algorithm efficiency using asymptotic growth and mathematical reasoning.

  • Apply number theory concepts to algorithms and basic cryptographic systems.

  • Design and reason about recursive algorithms using induction and recurrence relations.

Details to know

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Recently updated!

February 2026

Assessments

6 assignments

Taught in English

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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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  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
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There are 7 modules in this course

This module explores number theory (GCD, modular arithmetic), cryptography basics, mathematical induction, recurrence relations, and algorithm correctness. Students learn to prove properties of recursive and iterative solutions and understand secure systems like RSA encryption. It equips learners to design, verify, and analyze efficient, secure computational processes in software, cybersecurity, and advanced computing.

What's included

1 reading

Modular arithmetic studies arithmetic operations under remainders and divisibility. This topic introduces divisibility, congruences, and modular computations, which simplify calculations with large numbers and form the basis of many algorithms in computer science, including hashing, cryptography, and error detection.

What's included

17 videos1 reading1 assignment

This topic explores greatest common divisors (GCDs), the Euclidean algorithm, and their applications. It also introduces multiplicative inverses, linear congruences, and the Chinese Remainder Theorem, which are fundamental tools for solving number-theoretic problems efficiently in algorithms and cryptography.

What's included

18 videos1 reading1 assignment

This topic introduces cryptography as the study of secure communication over insecure channels. It covers secret-key cryptography, classical ciphers, key exchange problems, and public-key cryptography concepts, illustrating how number theory and modular arithmetic enable secure data transmission in modern systems.

What's included

18 videos1 reading1 assignment

This topic studies how to evaluate algorithm efficiency by analyzing running time and growth rates. It introduces asymptotic notation, such as Big-Theta, and applies these concepts to compare algorithms, emphasizing performance for large inputs rather than exact execution details.

What's included

18 videos1 reading1 assignment

Mathematical induction is a proof technique used to establish the truth of infinitely many statements. This topic introduces the principle of induction, its variants, and applications to proving formulas, inequalities, and properties of recursively defined structures common in mathematics and computer science.

What's included

16 videos1 reading1 assignment

Recursion defines objects and processes in terms of themselves. This topic introduces recursive definitions, recursive algorithms, and techniques for reasoning about their correctness and efficiency.

What's included

26 videos1 reading1 assignment

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Instructor

Kenneth Wai-Ting Leung
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
8 Courses 222,936 learners

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