COURSE INFO

SCHEDULE

SYLLABUS

HOMEWORK

OFFICE HOURS

Course description: This course, together with Real Analysis, is the heart and soul of the pure mathematics major. The course will begin with an intense study of groups and abstraction of the ideas of addition and multiplication. We will look a great deal at group structures and homomorphisms between groups, as well as their applications. We will continue with the study of rings and fields, which add more structure to the idea of a group, and we will look closely at how these structures relate to the sets of numbers we have encountered in mathematics up to this point. Click here for a more detailed schedule

Instructor: Barry Balof

Office: 220 Olin Hall

Location: 233 Olin Hall Time: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10-10:50. We will make frequent use of the 4th hour (9 Thursday)

Textbook: Contemporary Abstract Algebra, 7th ed. by Joe Gallian; Note that this is not the most recent edition of the text. It is important that you have this 7th edition. See the bookstore for more details

Class Time: It is my goal to get through two sections of new material per week, with time on Fridays reserved for questions or for bi-weekly quizzes. We will also do some review in the fourth hour (Thursdays at 9AM). Class attendance is extremely important!! Make-up quizzes will only be given in rare circumstances or with my prior approval. Please see me in advance if you need to miss a class.

Homework: Homework will be assigned daily and collected weekly. In addition to written exercises, you (the students) will present exercises in class on alternate Thursdays.

Tests: In addition to the quizzes, the class will have a timed in-class midterm (with an out-of-class oral portion) on or around October 25 and a Final exam with both written and take-home or oral components (On December 20). More details will be given in class.

Grading: Grades will be assigned on a rougly 90-80-70 scale, with grades weighted as follows.

Homework and Class Participation	20 %
Quizzes	30 %
Midterm	20 %
Final Exam	30 %

Academic Honesty: Students are allowed, and in fact, strongly encouraged, to collaborate on homework assignments. However, the work that you turn in must be your own. No copying from any source! As much of the homework presentation is oral, it will be essential to have a verbal as well as a mathematical understanding of the problems, so if you are having trouble with either of these components, please SEE ME during office hours or at any other time for aid.

Special Needs: Any student with a disability for whom special accommodations would be helpful is encouraged to discuss this with the professor as soon as possible.

Classroom Community: Mathematics is a highly collaborative enterprise, and we learn better when we learn together. In order to achieve our goals, we must foster mutual respect, regardless of background or beliefs. Racism, sexism, or other forms of discrimination have no place in the classroom or at the college. All students are capable of success, and it is imperative that we work under that ethos.