Syllabus: Math 417 Abstract Algebra Spring 2012

Instructor: Rinat Kedem
Time/place: TuTh 12:30-1:45 in room 447 Altgeld Hall
Office Hours: TuTh 11-12  , 342 Illini Hall.
Text: Michael Artin, Algebra, 2nd edition.
Web page: http://www.math.uiuc.edu/~rinat/417

I am always happy to answer questions about homework or the course material by email: rinat at the usual domain name


There will be a review session Wednesday, 2/29 at 7:00 pm in 245 Altgeld Hall.

Grade content:
Homework
 30%
 Your 2 worst scores will be dropped.
Pre-class assignment
 5%
 This is "extra credit": The total is 105%. To be handed in at the beginning of class each day.
Midterm 1
 20%
 Thursday, March 1
Midterm 2
 20%
 April 17
Final
 30%
 8-11am May 10, 2012.

Homework will be collected approximately once per week. No late homework will be accepted due to grader constraints. To allow for contingencies, the two lowest homework scores will be dropped from your grade. The homework assignments will be posted on the web site: Check for any changes before writing it up.

Homework solutions should be written as proofs. This means that (1) The problem should be stated first, as a lemma or a claim, and (2) the solution should then be written carfully as a logical argument, constituting a proof. If the problem asks whether something is true or not, you must prove your assertion.

Solutions are to be written out cleanly, on a new sheet of paper once you have figured out what the solution should be on scratch paper. Neatness and more importantly, clarity, count in the grading scheme. Not all problems will be graded by the grader due to time constraints. However, all problems are fair game for exams.

Worksheets will be posted by the day before class. There is a reading assignment, and the worksheet is based on this reading material. You should hand it in at the beginning of class. It will be graded based on the completeness of your attempt to complete the problems, not on correctness. Absolutely no late worksheets will be accepted.

Midterms will be cummulative, as will the final exam.

Collaboration: You are encouraged to form study/discussion groups for help with the homework problems. However, please make sure the solution is your own: You should write up your solutions separately from the group, to avoid excessive dependence on collaboration.


Course content: Groups and rings.


Daily reading and worksheet assignment
January 17
 No worksheet Basics. No homework
January 19
 worksheet Review of linear algebra: Chapter 1. homework due 1/24
January 24
 worksheet Section 2.1: Group composition laws.
Homework 1 due
January 26
 worksheet Sections 2.2, 2.3: Groups and subgroups
 
January 31
 No worksheet Sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.6
 Homework due today: pp 69-70, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.2, 3.3 Solutions to graded problemssolution to problem 3.3
February 2
 worksheet Sections 2.6, 2.7
  
February 7
 no worksheet Sections 2.7, 2.8
 HW Due: Ch 2, 4.1, 4.3, 4.6--4.10; 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.5; 6.1--6.3, 6.5--6.7, 6.9, 6.10 Solutions
February 9
 worksheet Section 2.10,2.12
  
February 14
 No worksheet Sections 6.1-6.3
 Homework due: Ch 2 8.1, 8.4, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 8.11 + 12.1, 12.2, 12.4, 12.5 solutions
February 16
 worksheet Sections 6.4, 6.5
  
February 21
 worksheet Sections 6.7, 6.8, 6.9
 Homework on D_n plus: Chapter 6, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 5.1, 5.3, 5.6 solutions
February 23
worksheet Sections 6.8-6.10
 
February 28
 worksheet 6.11-6.12
 
March 1
 worksheet Exam I
 Ch 6: 7.1, 7.3, 7.7, 7.10, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 9.2, 11.3, 11.7 Solutions
March 6
 worksheet Sections 7.1-7.3
 Homework due March 13
March 8
 worksheet Sections 7.4-7.6
  
March 13
 worksheet Section 7.7
  
March 15
 worksheet end of Sylow and fundamental thm of finite abelian groups
  
March 27
 worksheet 11.1,11.2
 Homework 8 is due
March 29
 worksheet 11.3
  
April 3
 worksheet 11.4
 Homework 9 is due
April 5
 No worksheet 11.5,11.6
  
April 10
 worksheet 11.7,11.8
 Homework 10 due (some solutions)
April 13
 worksheet Review
  
April 17
 Exam II
 Ch 11 8.1, 8.2ab
April 19
  
 
April 24
  
Homework 12Solutions
April 26
  
 
May 1
  
 

Useful links:

Free online lectures on algebra from Benedict Gross at Harvard.

Online version of the textbook.

How to check your grades so far: You can log into the math department's grades program. If you find an inconsistency with your own records, please let me know as soon as possible.