Course Information
Instructor:
Scott Annin
Class Number:
14455
Class Time:
MW 4:00-5:15 p.m.
Class Room:
McCarthy 655
Office:
McCarthy 380A
Office Phone:
278-7678
| Mondays: 12-1 and 3-3:50 |
| Tuesdays: 1-3 |
| Wednesdays: 12-2 and 5:30-7 |
E-Mail: sannin@fullerton.edu
Webpage Address: http://math.fullerton.edu/sannin
Text: A First Course
in Abstract Algebra (7th edition), by John B Fraleigh.
I hope to cover as many of the following sections of the text as time
permits. It is unlikely we will manage to cover all of them in a
single semester only, but I'll list them out anyway.
PRELIMINARIES: Sections 0,2,3
GROUPS: Sections 4,5,6,8,9,10,11,13,14,15,36,37
RINGS: Sections 18,19,20,22,23,26,27
FIELDS: Sections 29,30,31
Course Syllabus: Abstract algebra is an enormous subject, consisting of a mixed bag of many topics. A certain amount of jumping around between topics is unavoidable, but I will do my best to preserve some sense of continuity. Briefly, some of the topics we will explore are (1) a quick review of the theory of numbers, sets, relations, and functions, (2) group theory (many sub-topics), (3) ring theory (many sub-topics), and (4) field theory (just an introduction). Section 0 is a preliminary review chapter, which should be familiar from Math 280. Please read that section outside of class right away; we will only spend a brief time on it in class.
Grading: Homework and Quizzes (30%) Two Midterms (15% each), Final Exam (30%), and your best 10% among the 90% above will be counted twice, accounting for an additional 10%. Also, I reserve the right to raise or lower your class percentage by 2-3% on the basis of a qualitative measure that I call "qualitative performance" (see below).
Exams: The dates of the tests are:
| First Midterm | Wednesday, March 19 |
| Second Midterm | Wednesday, May 7 |
| Final Exam | Wednesday, May 28 (5:00-6:50 p.m.) |
Note: I may also give part of the examination as a take-home exam, to be completed prior to the in-class portion. All in-class exams are closed book, closed notes, closed calculators. No make-up exams are allowed , so check your schedule now to ensure that you have no time conflicts with the above exam schedule.
Homework and Quizzes: Homework will usually be assigned twice per week. Assignments will be due to the envelope outside of my office door by 8:00 p.m. on the day it is due. No late papers can be accepted. For each assignment, some problems will be graded in detail for mathematical correctness, and some credit will also be given for the overall completeness of the work, regardless of the correctness. The homework is very important, and you should work hard at it. You may work together with friends and get any help from me you need, provided your final solution write-up is done in your own words and is not merely copied. I will supply formal solutions to some of the problems.
Quizzes will be announced at least 2 class periods before they are to be given. Each quiz will carry the weight of one homework assignment. We will not have many quizzes, and they will be short (approx. 15 minutes). I will only give them if I feel the class needs to stop and review and check understanding.
Qualitative Performance: I may use the following qualitative factors to change your class percentage by 2-3 % (basically, to deal with borderline grade cases): attendance, participation in class discussions, hard work, improvement, office hours, etc....
Final Thoughts: I'm looking forward to working with you all this semester! I *want* to help you learn the material and do well in the class. If you are having any problems or concerns with the class, I hope you will be comfortable talking to me about it. I'll do my best to give advice to keep you on track. I would like to get to know each of you individually this summer, so to help me learn your names and show you where to find my office, I would like each of you to stop by my office sometime during the first two weeks of the course to introduce yourself . I will drop your lowest homework/quiz score if you do this. It should take no more than 5 minutes, and I hope you will come by. Have a great semester, and good luck.
Scott