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<meta name="DESCRIPTION" content="State Based Modelling course The Software Engineering Mathematics course introduces a means of describing and reasoning about formal descriptions of systems In this course, we build upon those foundations to show how we might describe, animate and prove properties of state based models in the languages of Z and B Frequency This course normally runs once a year ">


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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td style="width: 75px"><div style="width: 75px;height: 75px"><div style="width: 55px;height: 55px; margin: 10px;-moz-box-shadow: 0px 5px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.3), -2px 1px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.3), 2px 1px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.3); -webkit-box-shadow: 0px 5px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.3), -2px 1px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.3), 2px 1px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.3); box-shadow: 0px 5px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.3), -2px 1px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.3), 2px 1px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);-moz-border-radius: 8px;-webkit-border-radius: 8px; border-radius: 8px;" id="SBMBg"><div style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-align:center; position: relative; top: 20px; background-color: transparent; color: white">SBM</div></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle"><h1>State-Based Modelling</h1></td></tr></table>
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	<p><p>The Software Engineering Mathematics course introduces a means of describing and reasoning about formal descriptions of systems. In this course, we build upon those foundations to show how we might describe, animate and prove properties of state-based models in the languages of Z and B.</p>
<h4>Frequency</h4>
<p>This course normally runs once a year.</p></p>
<h4>Course dates</h4>
<center>
<table style="margin-left: 20px" width="95%">
<tr><td width="22%" valign="top">12th January 2026</td><td valign="top">Oxford University Department of Computer Science - Held in the Department</td><td valign="top" width="33%">13 places remaining.</td></tr>
</table>
</center>
<h4>Objectives</h4>
<p>At the end of the course, students will be able to write and analyse state-based descriptions in terms
of both the schema language of Z and the B-method. Students will be able to map from the so-called whiteboard approach of the former to the more tool-oriented approach of the latter.</p>
<h4>Contents</h4>
<p><p>The course will cover four broad topics: the schema language of Z; the B-method; analysing state-based descriptions via animation and model checking; and data refinement.</p>
<h4>Assessment Criteria</h4>
<ul>
<li>Have you demonstrated competence in the theory that underpins Z and B?</li>
<li>Have you demonstrated competence in the application of the schema language of Z?</li>
<li>Does your model offer a plausible interpretation of the problem as stated and is it appropriately structured?</li>
<li>Are you able to navigate from a Z representation to a B representation?</li>
<li>Have you demonstrated an understanding of the relevance of state-based modelling to the wider software engineering context?</li>
</ul></p>
<h4>Requirements</h4>
<p>Attending an instance of the Software Engineering Mathematics course before registering for this
course is strongly encouraged.</p>

	
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