Jaypee Institute of Informtion Technology University
Noida
Computer Science Deprtment
Problem Set 0
PART A
PROBLEM 1 (2+2 points, suggested length of 2 lines)
Let X and Y be sets. Using set notation, give formal descriptions of the following sets:
(A) the set of all nonempty subsets of X
(B) and the difference between two sets X and Y , denoted X \Y , i.e., the set containing all elements
of X that are not elements of Y .
PROBLEM 2 (2+2 points, suggested length of 1/4 of a page)
Let N = {0, 1, 2, . . .} be the set of natural numbers. For each of the following functions f : N N,
state whether f is (i) one-to-one, (ii) onto, and (iii) bijective.
(A) f (x) =
x!
x + 1 if x is even
(B) f (x) =
x 1 if x is odd
PROBLEM 3 (4 points, suggested length of 1/2 page)
Consider the binary relation . defined by A . B if there exists a one-to-one (injective) function
f : A B. Is . reflexive? symmetric? transitive? Justify your answers. Explain in simpler terms
what it means if A . B, and also if both A . B and B . A.
PART B
PROBLEM 4 (6 points, suggested length of 1/2 page)
Define the Fibonacci numbers as follows:
F0 = 0
F1 = 1
Fn = Fn1 + Fn2 for all n > 1
Prove the following statement by induction:
(A) For n 2, Fn equals the number of strings of length n 2 over alphabet = {a, b} that do
not contain two consecutive as.
PROBLEM 5 (2+2+2 points, suggested length of 6 lines)
Let L1 be the language {an : n 0} and L2 be the language {x : x {a, b} and |x| = 5}. Answer
yes or no to the following questions.
(A) Do the following sets contain the empty string ?
i. L1 L2
ii. L1 L2
(B) Do the following sets have the empty set as a subset?
i. L2
ii. L1 L2
(C) Do the following sets contain as an element?
i. L1
ii. P (L2 )
PROBLEM 6 (Challenge!! 3 points, suggested length of 1/3 of a page)
Note: On every problem set we will provide a challenge problem, generally significantly more difficult than the other problems in the set, but worth only a few points. It is recommended that you
attempt these problems, but only after completing the rest of the assignment.
Show that in any group of at least six people, either three of them are mutual friends (i.e. they
all know each other) or three of them are mutual strangers (i.e., none of them know each other).
You may assume that knowing is symmetric.
(Hint: pigeonhole them.)