Abstract algebra I (Math 128A), Fall 2010

MacQuarrie Hall 235, MW 10:30-11:45am (Sec 01, code 40847)

Last update of this page: Thu Jan 27, 2011

Announcements:

• PS11 will be graded and available for pickup at my Math 19 finals review session, Fri Dec 10, 2:30, in MacQuarrie Hall 324. Just come in, no need to knock or be shy.

• Review for final exam, Mon Dec 13, 12:15, MacQuarrie Hall 322. This will also be the last chance to revise PS09-11, and answers to PS09-11 will be handed out at this time.

• Final exam, Thu Dec 16, 9:45am-noon, in our usual room.

• If you'd like to do some review/self-study on methods of proof, see this handout on writing proofs. You might also try looking at Reading, Writing, and Proving, by Daepp and Gorkin.

Administrative handouts:

Course notes:

Course content: Axioms for groups and rings, Cayley tables for D₆.

Patterns for: D₄ calculators (squares), D₅ calculators (pentagons), D₆ calculators (hexagons).

Also, check out Gallian's website, with links to useful things like online flash cards for definitions (hard copy version).

Topics for exams:

Sample exams:

Problem sets:

HW	Outline due	Due date	Last revision due	Problems	Outline answers
PS01	Mon Aug 30	Wed Sep 01	Mon Sep 20	See handout (CORRECTED AUG 31)	Complete model outline
PS02	Wed Sep 08	Mon Sep 13	Mon Oct 18	See handout (CORRECTED SEP 07)	Partial outline
PS03	Wed Sep 15	Mon Sep 20	Mon Oct 18	See handout	Partial outline
PS04	Wed Sep 29	Mon Oct 04	Mon Oct 18	See handout (CORRECTED SEP 28)	Partial outline
PS05	Wed Oct 06	Mon Oct 11	Mon Nov 15	See handout	Partial outline (CORRECTED OCT 08)
PS06	Wed Oct 13	Mon Oct 18	Mon Nov 15	See handout	Partial outline
PS07	Wed Oct 27	Mon Nov 01	WED DEC 08 (changed)	See handout	Partial outline
PS08	Wed Nov 03	Mon Nov 08	Wed Dec 08	See handout (CORRECTED OCT 28)	Partial outline
PS09	Wed Nov 10	Mon Nov 15	Mon Dec 13	See handout (CORRECTED NOV 04)	Partial outline
PS10	Wed Nov 24	Mon Nov 29	Mon Dec 13	See handout	Partial outline
PS11	Wed Dec 01	Mon Dec 06	Mon Dec 13	See handout	Partial outline

Reading assigned in course:

Proof handout: Parts I-II.

Other useful links:

• If you're interested in typesetting math, the system I use to make my handouts is called LaTeX. If you have a Windows PC, you can download LaTeX for free at http://www.miktex.org; you will also need a good text editor, like the shareware program WinEdt. PCTeX also makes a good commercial version; student prices are $150 for the "Publisher" version, which I recommend if you have the money, $50 for the "Writer" version, which I recommend if you don't. If you own a Mac, you can download a complete system called TeXShop for free. If you own a Linux computer, you already own a copy of this program, as it's been a standard Unix program for about 20 years.

  LaTeX is well worth learning, if you have some free time; it's used for manuals and technical reports throughout nerd-dom. For self-study, I highly recommend Learning LaTeX (Griffiths and Higham) for beginners, and the LaTeX book by Leslie Lamport as a reference.

• Free downloads: Adobe Acrobat (for reading .pdf files)

• Instructor: Tim Hsu.
• Required text: Contemporary Abstract Algebra, Gallian, 7th ed.
• Optional text: Writing Proofs, Hsu, downloadable here
• Homework: Outline and final version due once each week, except in exam weeks. For details, see the handout on homework in Math 128A.
• Exams: Three in-class 50-minute exams, plus 2 hour, 15 min final exam (Thu Dec 16, 9:45am-noon).
• Grading: Final course grades consist of:
  

  Homework:	20%
  Exam 1:	16%
  Exams 2 & 3:	17% each
  Final:	30%