Course data:
Title: Algebraic Structures
Catalog Number: MAS 4301, Section 0001
Class Number: 80803
Credit Hours: 3
Meeting times: Monday Wednesday Friday, 10:30 - 11:20
Course Location: Mathematics and Physics Building 108
Professor: Dr. Michael Reid
Office: MAP 106
Office Hours: Monday 11:20 - 12:20, Tuesday 10:20 - 12:20,
Wednesday 11:20 - 12:20, Friday 11:20 - 12:20 and also by appointment.
No appointment is necessary during normal office hours.
Phone: 823-6462
E-mail: reid@math.ucf.edu
(please do not use any format other than text format for e-mail)
Textbook: Abstract Algebra: a first course,
by Dan Saracino
Course Web page:
http://www.math.ucf.edu/~reid/Teaching/Fall2004/mas4301.html
Prerequisite: MHF 3302 (Logic and Proof in Mathematics)
Also recommended as a pre- or co-requisite:
MAS 3105 (Matrix and Linear Algebra)
You must be comfortable with doing and writing proofs.
Course goals: This course gives an introduction to Abstract Algebra. You will find that you need to think in a very different way from how you did in calculus. Each step, although abstract, is completely logically. The subject itself is entirely self-contained. This course introduces you to the type of abstraction and rigor that mathematicians work with in their research.
Topics to cover:
Binary operations
Groups, basic properties
Cyclic groups
Subgroups
Direct products
Symmetric groups
Equivalence relations
Cosets
Lagrange's Theorem, Fermat's little Theorem
Normal subgroups
Homomorphisms
Finite abelian groups
Rings
Subrings, ideals, quotient rings
Ring homomorphisms
Polynomials
Fields
If time permits, we will also cover some of Sylow's Theorems.
Grades: You should concentrate on learning, instead of distracting yourself by worrying about grades.
Grading formula:
Homework: 15%
First Midterm: 20%
Second Midterm: 20%
Final Exam: 40%
Best Exam: 5%
I expect to use standard gradelines, i.e. 90% for an "A", 80% for a "B",
70% for a "C" and 60% for a "D".
If appropriate, there may be a curve which would ease these cutoffs,
but you should not count on that.
Plus and minus grades will be used.
Exams: Both in-class midterms will be announced a week or two before they are given. The final exam is scheduled for Monday, December 6th from 10:00 - 12:50. Exams may not be missed for any reason other than documented emergencies.
Homework policy:
Homework is an important part of this class.
In order to learn the material well, it is imperative to do all of it.
Homework must be written neatly and stapled together.
This means that you will need to work out the problems on scratch paper
before transcribing your final version neatly to turn in.
Late homework will not be accepted.
I will drop your lowest homework score.
The work you turn in must be your own work. You may work in study groups, and are encouraged to do so if you find that helpful. But it is imperative that you know how to do the problems and that you write up the solutions by yourself. This probably means that you should NOT write up the solutions in study groups; rather do it by yourself.
To enforce this policy, if I find cases of copied assignments, I will assign of grade of 0 to all assignments involved.
The homework assignments are listed here.
Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend every lecture.
You are responsible for knowing the contents of every lecture as well as
important announcements.
Cell phones must be turned off. In general, students should be respectful
of their classmates and the instructor (i.e. do not be a distraction).
Special accomodations: If anyone requires special accommodations for this class, they must inform me within the first week of the class (before Aug. 30th at the very latest). This deadline has now passed.
Last updated: October 1, 2004