Professor: Dan Abramovich
Office: Kassar 118
Telephone: (401) 863 7968
E-mail: abrmovic@math.brown.edu
Web site: http://www.math.brown.edu/~abrmovic/MA/f1011/153.html
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday 11:00-12:00; Friday 1:00-2:00
Mycourses: direct link

Text: Abstract Algebra, by D. S. Dummit and R. M. Foote. 3rd edition is most up-to-date (I think), but second edition is good if you can lay your hands on a cheaper copy. Excercise numbering may differ. The book is hefty and could be intimidating - don't get scared. I chose it because it will serve you well for years to come, and costs roughly as much as the thinner books.

An introduction to the principles and concepts of modern abstract algebra. Topics will include groups, rings, and fields, with applications to number theory, the theory of equations, and geometry.

This is a "proof intensive" course. Titled Abstract Algebra for a reason. May serve as a testing ground for you to see if you like pure mathematics.

Reading and exercises will be assigned, homework collected weekly. Homework can be challenging, start early. Homework solutions are individual - you must write your own. However I encourage you to think about the problems in groups, as sometimes getting to the idea is challenging. Of course it is also more fun to work this way.

I expect there to be a large independent reading/essay assignment too.

Grades will be given based on homework and two exams.

Tentative date for midterm: Wednesday, October 13, in class. Let me know right away if there is any issue with the date.
Firm date for final: Monday, December 13, 2010.

• Assignment 1: Homework given September 1-3
  Read: all Chapter 0, Sections 1.1, 1.2
  Section 0.3, exercises 3,4,7,8,13,14,15a
  Section 1.1, exercises 6,7,11,12,20,24,28,31*
  Due on mycourses or in class, Friday, September 10.
  Early submissions accepted on mycourses or in course mail slot
  
  Assignment 1 second chance problems for those who submitted assignment 1 online:
  The problems from assignement 1 which you can revise for further review are
  7, 20, 24, 28, and 31, in section 1.1.
  Due on mycourses 9/24
  
  
• Assignment 2: Homework given September 8-10
  Read: through Chapter 1
  Section 1.2, exercises 1,2,4,9,10,12
  Section 1.3, exercises 1,4,9, 13, 15
  Section 1.4, exercises 3,6,7
  Section 1.5, exercises 1,2
  Due on mycourses or in class, Friday, September 17. Early submissions accepted on mycourses or in course mail slot
  Assignment 2 second chance problems (for those who submitted it online):
  The problems from assignement 2 which you can revise for further review are
  1.2: 4, 10; 1.3: 15. 1.4: 7.
  Due on mycourses October 1
  
  
• Assignment 3: Homework given September 13-17
  Read: through 2.3
  Section 1.6, exercises 3,4,6,7,11,18,20,23,25
  Section 1.7, exercises 1,3,8,11,17,21
  Section 2.1, exercises 1,3,6,9,10,15
  Due on mycourses or in class, Friday, September 24.
  Early submissions accepted on mycourses or in course mail slot
  
  
• Assignment 4: Homework given September 20-24
  Read: through 3.3
  Section 2.2, exercises 2,4,5,7
  Section 2.3, exercises 1,5,12,16,24
  Section 2.4, exercises 2,6,7
  Section 2.5, exercises 1,4,9
  Due on mycourses or in class, Friday, October 1.
  Early submissions accepted on mycourses or in course mail slot
  
  
• Assignment 5: Homework given September 27-October 1
  Read: through 4.2; review
  Section 3.2, exercises 1,2,7,8,22,23
  Section 3.1, exercises 1,6,9,14,17
  Section 3.3, exercises 3,4,7
  Due on mycourses or in class, Friday, October 8.
  Early submissions accepted on mycourses or in course mail slot
  
  
• Assignment 6: Homework given October 4-19
  Read: through 4.5, and 5.1
  Starred exercises are "second chance problems".
  Section 3.5, exercises 2,3*,4,9
  Section 3.4, exercises 2,4*,5
  Section 4.1, exercises 1*,3,4,8a
  Section 4.2, exercises 1,7,8*
  Due on mycourses or in class, Friday, October 29.
  
  
• Assignment 7: Homework given October 21-29
  Read: through 4.5 and 5.1, 7.1,7.2; start reading assignment.
  Starred exercises are "second chance problems".
  Section 4.3 exercises 2, 7, 11, 25*, 26*, 30*
  Section 4.4 exercises 1,17
  Section 4.5 exercses 1,4,10, 18*
  Due on mycourses or in class, Friday, November 5.
  
  
• Assignment 8: Homework given November 1-5
  In your reading, please note that the book does not require a ring to have an identity, but I do!!
  Section 7.1, exercises 1-4,6(rings without identity),7,8*
  Section 7.2, exercises 1,2*,3,6,7*
  Section 7.3, exercises 2,3,5*
  Due on mycourses or in class, Monday, November 15.
  
  
• Assignment 9: Homework given November 8-12
  Section 7.4, exercises 1,7,10,11
  Section 7.5, exercises 2,3
  Section 7.6, exercises 5,7
  Due on mycourses or in class, Monday, November 22.
  
  
• Review exercises for later sections
  Section 8.1, exercises 1,2,3,5,10
  Section 8.2, exercises 1,2,4,8
  Section 8.3, exercises 1,2,3
  Section 9.1, exercises 1,4,5,6,12,13
  Section 9.2, exercises 1-8
  Section 9.3, exercises 1-4
  Section 9.4, exercises 1,2,3,5,9,11,12
  Section 13.1, exercises 1,2,3,4
  Section 13.2, exercises 1,2,3,4,7,12,14
  Section 13.3, exercises 1,4,5
  
• Reading assignment