Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Baccalaureate

1. Task Constraints in Real-Time Systems

In real-time systems, task constraints refer to the limitations or requirements that must be met for timely and correct execution. The key constraints include:

• Time constraints (hard and soft deadlines)
• Precedence constraints (task dependencies)
• Resource constraints (limited CPU, memory)
• Synchronization constraints (shared resource management)

Failing to meet these constraints can result in system failure in critical applications like aircraft control and medical monitoring systems.

2. EDD (Earliest Due Date) Algorithm Explained

The EDD (Earliest Due Date) algorithm is used for aperiodic task scheduling, where tasks are executed in order of their deadlines. The task having the earliest due date is given the

Essential English Vocabulary

Sports Venues & Equipment

• Badminton Court = Pista de bàdminton
• Boxing Ring = Ring de boxa
• Diving Board = Trampolí de piscina
• Golf Course = Camp de golf
• Ice Rink = Pista de gel
• Martial Arts Gym = Gimnàs d'arts marcials
• Race Course = Hipòdrom / Pista de curses
• Rugby Pitch = Camp de rugbi
• Ski Slope = Pista d'esquí

Sports Equipment

• Ball
• Boots
• Clubs
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Horses (for equestrian sports)
• Racket
• Skates
• Snow (for skiing/snowboarding)
• Water (for water sports)

Crime & Justice Vocabulary

• Prison Sentence = Sentència de presó
• Millionaire = Milionari
• Murders = Assassinats
• Hostage = Ostatge
• Thief = Lladre
• Commit (a crime) = Cometre (un crim)
• Crime = Crim
• Arrest = Arrestar
• Forge = Falsificar
• Hijack = Segrestar (vehicle)
• Kidnap = Segrestar

Heuristic Functions in AI

A heuristic function is a function used in algorithms, especially in search and optimization problems, to estimate the cost or value of a particular state or action. It provides an informed guess to guide decision-making towards an optimal or near-optimal solution efficiently.

Key Aspects of a Heuristic Function

• Estimation, Not Exact: It provides an approximate cost to reach the goal from a given state.
• Improves Efficiency: Helps reduce the number of states explored, speeding up search algorithms.
• Domain-Specific: Often designed based on the specific problem being solved.

The A* Algorithm Explained

A* (A-star) is one of the most popular and widely used pathfinding and graph traversal algorithms. It is commonly used in artificial... Continue reading "Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals: Algorithms, Agents, and Applications" »

Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence

Boolean Algebra Fundamentals

Formulating Expressions: SOP and POS

Sum of Products (SOP) Formulation Steps

1. Circle rows in the truth table where the output $Y = 1$.
2. Identify the minterms corresponding to the circled rows.
3. Sum (OR) the selected minterms to form the final expression.

Product of Sums (POS) Formulation Steps

1. Circle rows in the truth table where the output $Y = 0$.
2. Identify the maxterms corresponding to the circled rows.
3. Multiply (AND) the selected maxterms to form the final expression.

Order of Evaluation in Boolean Algebra

Operations are evaluated in the following sequence:

1. Parentheses
2. NOT (Complementation)
3. AND (Multiplication)
4. OR (Addition)

Fundamental Boolean Laws and Theorems

• Identity Laws

  • $A + 0 = A$
  • $A \cdot 1 = A$

• Null Laws

  • $A + 1 = 1$
  • $A \cdot

Lecture 1: Moore's Law

Moore's Law: The number of transistors on microchips doubles every two years.

Lecture 2: Logic Gates

AND, OR, and NOT gates are universal.

Logic word problem steps:

Example: In a bank, there were four employees: the bank manager, assistant manager, teller, and the security guard. The bank has a single vault for the storage of their money. This vault was designed so that it needs four signals to open it. These four signals are from the bank manager, assistant manager, teller, and the security guard. For the vault to open, it needs the following conditions:

1. No single employee can open the vault.
2. It can be opened with three employees as long as one of them is the manager.
3. It can be opened by the manager together with the assistant

1. PIC18 Architecture Details

• Harvard Architecture

  Features distinct program memory and data memory. Includes the MPU, Program Memory, Data Memory, I/O Ports, and support devices like timers.

• Microprocessor Unit (MPU)

  • ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)

    Performs operations such as addition, subtraction, and logical operations.

  • Registers

    Includes WREG (8-bit accumulator), Program Counter (PC), Stack Pointer (SP), and File Select Registers (FSRs).

  • Memory

    Offers 2 MB of program memory and 4 KB of data memory.

  • Bank Switching

    Data memory is divided into 16 banks, with one 256-byte access bank.

2. Data Formats and Representations

• Unsigned Integers

  These are 8-bit values, ranging from 0 to 255.

• Signed Integers

  Represented using 2's complement, with a range from -128 to

Computer Systems Fundamentals Cheat Sheet

Number Systems

• Binary (Base 2): Digits 0 and 1.
• Hexadecimal (Base 16): Digits 0–9 and A–F.
• Decimal (Base 10): Digits 0–9.

Conversions

• Binary to Decimal: Multiply each bit by 2^n from the right.
• Decimal to Binary: Divide by 2 and record the remainders.
• Hex to Binary: Replace each hex digit with its 4-bit binary equivalent.

Two's Complement (Signed Numbers)

• Positive numbers: Same as unsigned.
• Negative numbers: Invert all bits and add 1.
• Range (n bits): -2^(n-1) to 2^(n-1) - 1.
• Overflow: Occurs if carry into the sign bit ≠ carry out.

Boolean Algebra Rules

• Identity: A + 0 = A, A * 1 = A
• Null: A + 1 = 1, A * 0 = 0
• Idempotent: A + A = A, A * A = A
• Inverse: A + NOT A = 1, A * NOT A = 0
• Distributive: A(B + C) = AB +

Chapter 1: Understanding Variables

Types of Variables

• Categorical: Smoker (current, former, no)
• Ordinal: Non, light, moderate, heavy smoker (ordered categories)
• Quantitative: BMI, Age, Weight (numerical measurements)

Key Definitions

• Observation: Measurements are made (individual or aggregate).
• Variable: The generic characteristic we measure (e.g., age).
• Value: A realized measurement (e.g., 27).

Chapter 2: Statistical Studies

Surveys: Census and Sampling

• Goal: Describe population characteristics.
• Census: Attempts to reach the entire population (costly, time-consuming).
• Sampling: Uses a sample of the population (allows for inferences, saves time and money).
• Simple Random Sampling: Based on probability.
• Issues with Sampling: Under-coverage, volunteer bias,

Passive Voice

• Active: The secretary types the letter.
• Passive: The letters are typed by the secretary.

• Future Simple: Will type / Will be typed
• Past Simple: Typed / Were typed
• Modal: Can type / Can be typed
• Present Continuous: Am/is/are being + past participle
• Present Perfect Simple: Have / has been + past participle

Impersonal Voice

1. It is thought/said/believed + that...
2. Subject + is considered/thought/said + to be...

The Causative (get/have + object + verb 3rd form)

Often associated with professions. Changes depending on the verbal tenses.

Ex: The painters painted my house / I had my house painted by the painters.

Wish Clauses

1. Wish + subject + past simple (about the future): Not reality, but you want it to happen. Ej: I wish I were a rich man.
2. Wish + could