Required text: Thomas W. Judson; Abstract Algebra; 2013 edition.
This book is available for free online here.
If you prefer to have a hardcopy version, this can be bought through the dealers listed on the website above for around $20.
Course syllabus: We shall cover a large part of the book, while omitting a few chapters. We expect to cover chapters 2-6, 9-18, 21. Chapter 1 is background material, which you will mostly be familiar with and are expected to consult or read on you own.
Course hours and location: Monday - Wednesday - Friday, 12:00-12:50 PM in Taft Hall 304.
Office hours: Monday 3:00-5:00 in my office SEO 416.
Reading: I will assign chapters from the book that I will try to cover every week. A good strategy is to read every section before it is covered it class, take notes and gain additional understanding during class, and the reread the section and
do the assigned homework exercises at the end of the week. Apart from the assigned homework exercises that have to be handed in, I assign
additional exercises that you should do on your own. The material covered in exercises constitute an integral part of the exam syllabus and
will greatly help you assimilate the theoretical material.
Homework: There will be a number of homework sets due in the course of the semester. These should be handed
in to me at the beginning of class on the due date. No late homework will be accepted, so any homework handed in
after the deadline will be credited for 0 points. When calculating the homework grade, the lowest score will be dropped.
So, e.g., if you have missed one homework set, then this will be counted as your lowest score.
Midterms: There will be two midterms each taking place during
regular class hours. These will take place on:
1st midterm: February 18th
2nd midterm: April 1st
The midterms and final exam will consist of exercises resembling the homework exercises. So doing exercises equals good exam preparation.
To be excused from a midterm you will need to provide a valid excuse and a
letter from the doctor to this effect. You will not have the
chance to make up an exam, so if you are excused from a midterm your
midterm grade will be the score on your other
midterm. It is your responsibility to be in time for an exam, not your alarm clock's.
Final exam: Tuesday, May 5th, 8:00-10:00 AM
Grade: Your grade will be a weighted average of your homework,
midterm, and final grades calculated as follows:
Homeworks: 20 %
Midterms: 40 %
Final: 40 %
Weekly programme:
Week beginning on January 12th: Make sure you are familiar with the background material in chapters 1,2. Read chapter 3.
Week beginning on January 19th (note Monday is off due to Martin Luther King's day): Read chapter 4.
Week beginning on January 26th: Read chapter 5.
Week beginning on February 2nd: Read chapter 6.
Week beginning on February 9th: Read chapter 9.
Week beginning on February 16th: 1st midterm, reread chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 9.
Week beginning on February 23rd: Read chapter 10.
Week beginning on March 2nd: Read chapter 11.
Week beginning on March 9th: Read chapter 13.
Week beginning on March 16th: Read chapter 14.
Week beginning on March 23th: Spring break.
Week beginning on March 30th: 2nd midterm, reread chapters 10, 11, 13, 14.
Week beginning on April 6th: Read chapter 15.
Week beginning on April 13th: Read chapter 16.
Week beginning on April 20st: Read chapter 17.
Week beginning on April 27th: Review and catch up.
Homework exercises:
Due 01/23: 3.1(b)(d), 3.2(b)(d), 3.5, 3.7, 3.27, 3.32.
Due 01/30: 3.35, 3.36, 3.41, 3.47, 4.1, 4.2(b)(d)(f), 4.4(b)(d)(e), 4.14.
Due 01/06: 5.2(d)(i)(j)(k)(l), 5.3(b)(d), 5.6, 5.10, 5.13, 5.20, 5.23.
Due 02/13: 6.5(b)(f)(h), 6.6, 6.8, 6.9, 6.11, 6.19.
No homework due 02/20. First midterm.
Due 02/27: 9.4, 9.9, 9.16(b)(d), 9.18, 9.22, 9.34.
Due 03/06: 10.1(b)(e), 10.4, 10.5, 10.12.
Due 03/13: 11.1, 11.2(b)(d)(e), 11.7.
Due 03/20: 13.2, 13.3, 13.4(b)(f)(g)(d), 13.6, 13.7, 13.16.
