COURSE INFO

SCHEDULE

SYLLABUS

HOMEWORK

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

OFFICE HOURS


Math 385

Introduction to Abstract Algebra

Schedule


Daily topics are subject to change. This is a preliminary (optimistic?) schedule of topics that we will cover this semester. Note: The topics for the last three lectures are open for discussion. The book has several special topics and I would be happy to cover any of them that you would like to see covered in class.

Wednesday, 1/18: 1 Introduction to Groups and Symmetry
Friday, 1/20: 0 Mathematical Preliminaries
Monday, 1/23: 2 Enough examples to make your head spin (and then determine its symmetry group!)
Wednesday, 1/25: 3 Subgroups and more definitions
Friday 1/27: Homework Day
Monday 1/30: 4 Cyclic Groups
Wednesday 2/1: 5 Permutation Groups
Friday 2/3: Quiz 1: Sections 0-4
Monday 2/6: 6 Isomorphisms
Wednesday 2/8: 7 Cosets and Lagrange's Theorem
Friday 2/10: Homework Day
Monday 2/13: 8 External Direct Products
Wednesday 2/15: 9 Normal Subgroups and Factor Groups
Friday 2/17: Quiz 2: Sections 5-8
Monday, 2/20: 10 Group Homomorphisms
Wednesday, 2/22: 11 Fundamental Theorem of Finite Abelian Groups
Friday, 2/24: Homework Day
Monday 2/27: 24 Sylow Theorems
Wednesday 3/1 26 Generators and Relations
Friday 3/3: Quiz 3: Sections 9-11, 24
Monday, 3/6: Introduction to Counting
Wednesday 3/8: 29 Symmetry, Counting, and Polya's Theorem
Friday, 3/10: Review for Midterm (Note: The midterm will be due one week into Spring Break)
Monday, 3/27: 12 Introduction to Rings
Wednesday 3/29: 13 Integral Domains
Friday, 3/31: 14 Ideals and Factor Rings
Monday, 4/3: 15 Ring Homomorphisms
Wednesday 4/5: Homework Day
Friday, 4/7: Quiz 4: Sections 12-15
Monday, 4/10: 16 Polynomial Rings
Wednesday 4/12: 17 Factorization of Polynomials
Friday, 4/14: Homework Day
Monday 4/17: 18 Divisibility in Integral Domains

Wednesday 4/19: Rings and Number Theory
Friday 4/21: Quiz 5: Sections 16-18
Monday, 4/24: Introduction to Symmetries
Wednesday 4/26: 27-28 Symmetry Groups
Friday, 4/28: Symmetry Scavenger Hunt/Class Dinner
Monday, 5/3: 20 Preview of Galois Theory
Wednesday, 5/5: 21 Algebraic Extensions
Friday, 5/7: Homework Day
Wednesday, 5/5: 21 Algebraic Extensions
Monday, 5/8: Course Recap and Final Review
Final Exam: Monday, December 13, 9-11 AM
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