IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Mathematics 301A: Abstract Algebra

Instructor: Jonathan Smith, 496 Carver, 4-8172 (voice mail)

e-mail: jdhsmithATiastateDOTedu (substitute punctuation)

Office Hours: Mon. 11 am, 2.30 pm; Wed. 11 am; Fri. 11am, (subject to change).

Grading: 10% for each of three graded homework assignments, 20% for each of two in-class tests, and 30% for the final (Wed., 12/15, 9.45-11.45am).

Click here for information about special accommodations.

Click here for tally of points earned.

Textbook: J.D.H. Smith, Introduction to Abstract Algebra, Chapman and Hall/CRC, 2008. ISBN 978-1-4200-6371-4. Click here for errata/addenda in Portable Document Format.

Study Plan: reserve 1 - 2 hours for homework between each pair of classes. Successful performance in the class depends critically on completion of the homework assignments.

Communication devices must remain switched off during the class periods and final.

Syllabus: Groups and rings, selected topics from Chapters 1 to 6.

Homework Assignments

Click here for Practice Final in Portable Document Format

Third graded homework due 12/6: Three questions from Section 5.7: 37, 38; Section 6.9, Exercises 13, 17, 31.

12/1 for 12/3: Read Sections 6.3, 6.4, 6.5; do Section 6.9, pages 148 - 149, Exercises 16, 30, 32.

11/29 for 12/1: Read Section 5.5; do Section 5.7, pages 115 - 116, Exercises 28, 29, 34, 36.

11/19 for 11/29: Read Section 6.1; do Section 6.9, page 147, Exercises 1, 4.

Click here for Practice Test #2 in Portable Document Format

11/12 for 11/15: Read Section 5.6.

11/10 for 11/12: Read Section 5.4; do Section 5.7, pages 114 - 5, Exercises 24, 27.

11/8 for 11/10: Read Sections 5.2, 5.3; do Section 5.7, pages 113 - 4, Exercises 14, 21, 22, 25.

11/3 for 11/8: Read Section 5.1; do Section 5.7, page 112, Exercises 3, 4, 7.

11/1 for 11/3: Read Section 4.7; do Section 4.9, pages 90 - 91, Exercises 36, 37, 40.

10/27 for 10/29: Read Section 4.6; do Section 4.9, pages 89 - 90, Exercises 24, 25, 29.

Second graded homework due 10/25: Three questions from Section 3.6: 7, 17, 18; Section 4.9, Exercises 15, 17.

10/22 for 10/25: Read Section 4.5; do Section 4.9, page 89, Exercise 23.

10/20 for 10/22: Read Section 4.4; do Section 4.9, page 88, Exercises 18 through 21.

10/18 for 10/20: Read Sections 4.1 to 4.3; do Section 4.9, page 88, Exercises 11, 12, 16, 13.

10/15 for 10/18: Read Section 3.5; do Section 3.6, pages 61 - 62, Exercises 11, 13.

10/13 for 10/15: Read Section 3.4; do Section 3.6, page 61, Exercise 12.

Click here for Practice Test #1 in Portable Document Format

10/4 for 10/6: Read Section 3.3; do Section 3.6, page 61, Exercises 7, 8.

10/1 for 10/4: Read Section 3.2; do Section 3.6, page 61, Exercises 3, 4, 5.

9/29 for 10/1: Read Section 3.1; do Section 3.1, page 61, Exercises 1, 2.

9/27 for 9/29: Read Section 2.11.

9/22 for 9/24: Read Section 2.7; do Section 2.8, pages 42 - 43, Exercises 37, 42, 44.

First graded homework due 9/24: Three questions from Section 1.9, Exercises 38, 43; Section 2.8, Exercises 13, 14, 21.

9/20 for 9/22: Read Section 2.6; do Section 2.8, pages 41 - 42, Exercises 29, 34, 35 (Hint: Use the Pigeonhole Principle from Exercise 28).

9/17 for 9/20: Read Section 2.5; do Section 2.8, page 40, Exercises 20, 24, 23.

9/15 for 9/17: Read Section 2.4; do Section 2.8, page 39, Exercises 5, 8, 9.

9/13 for 9/15: Read Section 2.3; do Section 2.8, page 39, Exercise 3.

9/8 for 9/10: Read Sections 2.1, 2.2; do Section 2.8, page 39, Exercises 1, 2.

9/3 for 9/8: Read Section 1.8.

9/1 for 9/3: Read Section 1.7.

Zeroth graded homework due 9/8: Three questions from Section 1.9, pages 18 - 20, Exercises 13, 19, 20, 28, 33.

8/30 for 9/1: Read Section 1.6; do Section 1.9, page 19, Exercises 27, 32.

8/27 for 8/30: Read Sections 1.3 through 1.5; do Section 1.9, pages 17 - 19, Exercises 12, 14, 22.

8/25 for 8/27: Read Section 1.2; do Section 1.9, page 17, Exercises 5, 9.

8/23 for 8/25: Read Section 1.1; do Section 1.9, page 17, Exercise 1.