Time & Place: 11:00 - 12:15 TR, Core Education Center 113

Instructor: Roger G. Olson, Ph.D.

Office: Science 018 (basement) Phone: 866-6295 E-mail: rogero

Office Hours: 10-11:30am M, 2-4:30pm TWR, or by appointment

C.C. Pinter, A Book of Abstract Algebra, Second Edition, McGraw-Hill 1990

A POSSIBLY USEFUL WEB SITE: Abstract Algebra Online

This course is that portion of Abstract Algebra that studies elementary group theory. It considers the properties of groups, subgroups, and functions; this leads to groups of permutations and groups isomorphic to them. Homomorphisms of groups along with the induced quotient groups culminate in the Fundamental Homomorphism Theorem; this rounds out the course. Either Math 232 or this course fulfills the requirement for Modern Algebra by the Indiana State Department of Education for Secondary Teacher Education students of mathematics.

The course will cover sequentially the first sixteen chapters of the text. Understanding rigorous mathematical proofs is an essential part of this course.

Your course grade will be based on four criteria: Examinations (two during the semester, plus the final exam), written homework assignments, a class presentation, and attendance. Attendance will be taken each class period and will affect your grade by a maximum of two percentage points in either direction. The criteria will be weighted in the following manner:
 

• There will be an assignment from each chapter covered in the text. I will always announce when an assignment is due, however, in case for any reason you don't hear me give the due date, the game plan will always be as follows: Assignments should be attempted by the next class period (so that questions may be asked in class) and are due at the end of the second class period after the appropriate chapter is finished. E.g., if I complete Chapter 4 on Tuesday September 19, the assignment for Chapter 4 is due at the end of the Tuesday September 26 class. Late assignments will not be accepted except under extreme circumstances.

 
• I cannot stress enough the importance that doing your homework has to your success in an advanced math course such as this. Math is not a "spectator sport". Even though class attendance and participation will help you a great deal in keeping up with the material, you cannot adequately learn math without practicing it on your own.

 
• Your assignments must be NEATLY DONE, and all work must be shown. Multiple pages must be STAPLED, and each page must have a smooth edge - pages torn out of spiral binders are NOT ACCEPTABLE.

 
• The first two exams will be given during the regular class period (approximately September 28 and November 9), and the third will be given in finals week. They will consist mostly of short proofs and definitions, with an occasional computational problem. If you keep up with class notes and do all homework assignments in a timely manner you will be adequately prepared for the exams.

 
• Your class presentation can be either a detailed explanation of a proof from the text (or elsewhere) or lecture about some aspect of the history or current state of abstract algebra. The presentations should be at least ten minutes long, and we'll start these sometime in late September - early October.