Mathematics 3400 (Group and Ring Theory) Fall 2011

Instructor:
 Joy Morris (Joy.Morris@uleth.ca), office C536, phone 332-4100

Office hours: TBA


Lectures:
 9:25-10:40am Tu Th in D632 (University Hall)


Text:
 Contemporary Abstract Algebra (4th Ed.) by Joseph A. Gallian (copies will be provided)

Supplementary materials may be posted on the class web page.

Prerequisite:
Math 2000


Web site:
 http://classes.uleth.ca/201103/math3400a/


Lecture schedule:
 Available from the class web page


Grading Scheme:
 Assignments (30%), Midterm Exam (30%), Final Exam (40%)

Cutoffs:  
95% A+ 85% A 80% A- 76.7% B+ 73.3% B
 70% B-
66.7% C+ 63.3% C
 60% C-
 55% D+ 50% D

Topics:
We will cover as much as possible from this list of topics, with other topics as time permits:
Groups - examples, properties, subgroups, cyclic groups, premutation groups (Chapters 1-5)
Group isomorphisms, Cayley's Theorem, cosets, Lagrange's Theorem, normal subgroups, Cauchy's Theorem, direct products, homomorphism, isomorphism theorems (Chapters 6-10)
Classification of finite abelian groups (Chapter 11)
Rings - examples, properties, integral domains, characteristic, ideals, ring homomorphisms, field of quotients (Chapters 12-17)
Sylow Theorems and applications. Discussion of finite simple groups. (Chapters 24-25)

Comments:
This course deals with quite abstract material. Students are expected to have a good grasp of material from Math 2000; in particular, you should be able to write clear and correct proofs. You may discuss assignment questions with your classmates, but you must write up assignment solutions on your own. Questions are always welcome. Office hours will be announced in class and posted on my office door; if you have trouble finding me in, I will also be available for appointments made by phone or email. Messages will be sent out by email relating to the course. Check your email regularly (@uleth.ca). There will be a web page for the course, where all assignments and solution sets will be posted in .pdf form. If you do not already have it, download a free version of Acrobat Reader from www.adobe.com to view these files, or use a computer at the university. The web address is classes.uleth.ca/201103/math3400a. There will be a lab (or labs) for this course; attendance is optional, but universally acceptable time(s) will be determined in the first week of classes.

Exams: On Thursday, October 27, the Midterm Exam will be given in class. The Final Exam will start at 2pm on Tuesday, December 13, and last approximately 3 hours. (Details will be provided near the end of the semester.) Arrive promptly for the exams, and bring a pen/pencil and your ULeth ID.

No makeups: There will be no makeups for exams.  However, if it will raise the average, your Final Exam percentage will be used in place of your total Assignment percentage and/or your Midterm Exam percentage. In the unlikely event that an emergency requires your exam to be rescheduled, you must receive the approval of Academic Advising for your request.

Academic dishonesty: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.  (In particular, cheating on an exam will automatically result in a grade of F for the semester.) Each member of the university community is responsible for understanding the standards of behavior that are required. Regarding cheating, see, in particular, Section 4a2a(2) of Part 4 of the current University Calendar.