Mathematics 3010-1: Abstract Algebra

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

e-mail: jdhsmithATiastateDOTedu (substitute punctuation)

Office Hours: Mon. 8:50 - 9:40 am; Wed. 8:50 - 9:40 am; Fri. 8:50 - 9:40 am, 3:20 - 4:10 pm (subject to change).

Academic grade points: 10% for each of four graded homework assignments (last due Mon., 5/5), 20% for each of two in-class tests, and 20% for the final Wed. 5/14, 7:30 - 9:30am. Additional points for attendance.

Accessibility statement;   Free expression statement.   Class absence memo.

Textbook: J.D.H. Smith, Introduction to Abstract Algebra, Second Edition, Chapman and Hall/CRC, 2015. ISBN 978-1-4987-3161-4.

Study Plan: Regular attendance, fullfilment of homework assignments, and active participation in class are the prerequisites for success. Except in extreme circumstances, no accommodation can be given for failure to meet this responsibility. Taking notes in class is strongly recommended. In general, neither passive lecture attendance nor video-watching are helpful for the class. Some online resources (such as Wikipedia) are available for alternative presentations of the material, but the textbook version will be definitive.

Syllabus: Groups, rings, and fields: selected topics from textbook Chapters 1 to 7.

Homework Assignments

Note: The day-to-day assignments, referring to reading sections and exercises from the textbook, are for completion singly or in self-organized groups between successive classes, ready for active discussion in class on the target date. Each assigned problem should be attempted.

3/10 for 3/12: Complete reading of Section 4.6; read first paragraph of Section 4.7; do Section 4.9, pages 90 - 91, Exercises 29, 35, 40.

3/7 for 3/10: Read Sections 4.5, and 4.6 through Example 4.45; do Section 4.9, pages 89 - 90, Exercises 22 - 25, 31.

3/5 for 3/7: Read Section 4.4; do Section 4.9, page 88, Exercises 18 through 21.

3/3 for 3/5: Read Section 4.3; do Section 4.9, page 88, Exercises 11, 12, 13, 14, 17.

2/28 for 3/3: Read Section 4.2; do Section 4.9, page 87, Exercises 4, 6, 7, 8.

Click here for Practice Test #1 in Portable Document Format

2/21 for 2/24: Read Section 4.1; do Section 2.8, page 39, Exercise 10 and Section 4.9, page 87, Exercises 1, 2, 4(a), 8(b), 9.

2/19 for 2/21: Read Section 3.5; do Section 3.6, page 62, Exercises 13 - 16.

2/17 for 2/19: Read Section 3.4; do Section 3.6, page 61, Exercises 11,12, Section 3.7, page 65, Exercises 3(a),(b).

Second graded homework (due 2/17): best three of pages 42 - 44, Exercises 38,46,51,53.

2/14 for 2/17: Read Section 3.3; do Section 3.6, page 61, Exercises 7,8.

2/12 for 2/14: Read Sections 3.1, 3.2; do Section 3.6, page 61, Exercises 1 - 5.

2/10 for 2/12: Read Sections 2.6, 2.7; do Section 2.8, pages 42 - 43, Exercises 34,37,40,42,45.

2/7 for 2/10: Read Section 2.5; do Section 2.8, page 40, Exercises 20 - 24.

2/5 for 2/7: Read Section 2.4; do Section 2.8, page 39, Exercises 5,7,8,9.

2/3 for 2/5: Read Sections 2.1 to 2.3; do Section 2.8, page 39, Exercises 1,2,3,4.

First graded homework (due 2/3): best three of pages 20 - 21, Exercises 28,31,33,45.

1/31 for 2/3: Read Section 1.8.

1/29 for 1/31: Read Section 1.7.

1/27 for 1/29: Read Section 1.6; do Section 1.9, page 20, Exercises 27,32,34.

1/24 for 1/27: Read Sections 1.4, 1.5; do Section 1.9, pages 17 - 20, Exercises 16,18,22,23,26.

1/22 for 1/24: Read Sections 1.1 to 1.3; do Section 1.9, page 17, Exercises 1,7,11,14.