MCS 223 Syllabus:    January 2004

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Dates Reading: Sinkov Reading: Barr Class topics/activities Due
Jan. 5 1.1-1.4 2.1 Introduction
Caesar cipher
Modular arithmetic
Direct standard alphabets
"Completing the plain component"
 
Jan. 6 1.5-1.8 2.2 Characteristic letter frequencies
"Slides"
Decimation
Solution of decimated standard alphabets
Monoalphabets based on linear (affine) transformations
Mod operator, mod relation, divisibility, gcd
Solving linear congruences
Formation of cryptogram-solving teams
 HW 1-3
Jan. 7   1.1 1:00 p.m. Video: Codebreakers  
Jan. 8   1.1 A Crypto-Chronology & Exercises with Professor Karl Knight
Make sure you work problems 1-6, 9-11 & 14 before the exam.
You may consult with one another and Prof. Knight in class. After that, work on your own. Compete to see who can solve the most section 1.1 problems by Monday.
 
Jan. 9 Chapter 1 1.1, 2.1-2.2 1:00 p.m. EXAM 1  
Jan. 12 2.1-2.2, 2.4 1.2-1.3, 2.3 Discuss Barr section 1.1.
Cryptology & math
Glossary of cryptology terms
Alice, Bob, and Eve
Overview of types of ciphers
General monoalphabetic substitution
Mixed alphabets: ACA schemes
Solution of Aristocrats
 HW 4-7
Crypts #1
Jan. 13 2.3 2.3 #5 Solution of Patristocrats, monoalphetic substitution without word divisions HW 8
Jan. 14     Work on crypts.  
Jan. 15-16 3.1-3.3 2.5-2.7 Polyalphabetic substitution
Vigenere encipherment/decipherment
Kasiski test
Friedman's index of coincidence
R 1/15 Crypts #2 HW 9
Jan. 19 2.1-3.3 2.1-2.3,2.5-2.7 EXAM 2 Crypts #3 HW 10
Jan. 20 3.4-3.7 2.8 Review of exam
Solution of polyalphabetic crypts
Polygraphic systems
Wheatstone-Playfair cipher
Hill's system
makeup
Jan. 21 Ch. 4 2.9 Maple
Hill's digraphic system
Project proposal makeup
Jan. 22 Ch. 4   Hill's digraphic system: case study & problems Project proposal (if not done Wed.)
Crypt #4
HW 11,12
Jan. 23 5.1-5.3 2.4 Transposition ciphers ("tramps")
Railfence ciphers
Columnar transpositions
Enciphering/deciphering
Solving complete columnar transpositions
 
Jan. 26 Chs. 3-5.1, 5.3 2.4-2.9 EXAM 3 Crypt #5
Jan. 27 5.4-5.5 4.1, esp.
pp. 254-260
Solving incomplete columnar transpositions
Extended Euclidean algorithm
makeup
Jan. 28   4.3-4.4 Public key cryptography
RSA cryptosystem
HW 13, 14
Jan. 29     Student presentations
  • Amber Retzlaff
  • Emily Thielman
  • John Foderick

RSA wrap-up
Exam 4 review
What to do after MCS 223
Crypt #6
Your Exam 4 questions & answers
Jan. 30     Student presentations
  • David Fasen
  • Michael Schmit

EXAM 4 (optional)
Reports

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