Math 417. Intro to Abstract Algebra (formerly Math 317)
Syllabus for Instructors

Text: A. Papantonopolou, Algebra Pure and Applied

(a) The Integers
Division algorithm. Greatest common divisors. Euclidean algorithm. Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic. Congruence Arithmetic. Applications to RSA cryptography.
[5]
(b) Permutations
Cycle decomposition. Order of a permutation. Even and odd permutations.
[3]
(c) Groups
Definition and examples. Subgroups, cosets and Lagrange’s Theorem. (Application to Key Exchange Protocol). Normal subgroups and quotient groups. Homomorphisms. The Isomorphism Theorems with illustrations.
[11]
(d) Group Actions
Examples of group actions. Orbits and stabilizers. Burnside’s Lemma. Applications to Cayley’s Theorem, the class equation, centers of finite p-groups, Cauchy’s Theorem. Simplicity of A5. Applications to Polya counting theory.
[9]
(e) Rings
Definition and Examples. Polynomial rings. Subrings and ideals. Quotient rings, homomorphisms. Isomorphism Theorems for rings. Integral domains and fields. Field of fractions of a domain. Division algorithm for F [ x ], F a field. Roots of polynomials. The Remainder Theorem.
[10]

(Total = 38 hours. Add 5 hours for exams and leeway).

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Last modified November 14, 2002