Fall 2007

MATH 4361 Modern Algebra

Instructor

Dr. Anda Gadidov

Office

Science Building Room 529

 

Phone

(770)423-6098, e-mail: agadidov@kennesaw.edu
All emails to the instructor should originate from the student’s netid.student.kennesaw.edu account or from their WebCT account. Our e-mail system has email filtering software that allows for blocking certain domains, one of which could be your commercial email provider.  For more information on setup and use of your email account, go to https://students.kennesaw.edu/email.

 

Office hours

MW 11:00am- 12:30pm; T after 2:00 pm; other times by appointment

 

Class meets

MW 9:30am-10:45pm in CL 1003

 

Text

Abstract Algebra with Notes to the Future Teacher by Nicodemi, Sutherland, and Towsley.

 

Course 
objectives

The main goal is to introduce students to the process of abstraction, of understanding more general structures starting from concrete examples. It is in this respect aimed at the future teachers who will learn how to relate the abstract mathematics to the knowledge they acquired in earlier courses.

 

Description

An introduction to the fundamental structures of abstract algebra (groups, rings, and fields), the connections of these structures with the algebra studied at the elementary level, and the historical development of modern algebra. Applications will be selected from the classical problems of solvability of polynomial equations, and the modern applications of groups to cryptography, and of finite fields to coding and computer design.

 

Learning 
outcomes

1.      Students will understand the Well Ordering Principle and will be able to prove simple results that require the use of this principle.

2.      Students will be able to apply the Division Algorithm and will be able to apply Euclid’s Algorithm to find the greatest common divisor of two integers.

3.      Students will be able to state the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic and to apply this theorem in solving some elementary problems involving prime factorization.

4.      Students will understand the concept of congruence and will be able to carry out computations and solve equations involving modular arithmetic.

5.      Students will understand the concepts of ring, field, and group, will be able top give examples of such structures and will be able to check if a given structure is one of a ring, group of field.

6.      Students will understand the notions of isomorphism and homomorphism and be able to solve problems involving these notions.

7.      Students will be able to define the concept of subgroup and will be able to determine (prove or disprove), in specific examples, whether a given subset of a group is a subgroup of the group.

8.      Students will learn problem solving techniques that involve not only logic and deduction, but also experimentation, conjecture or guessing and arguments from analogy.

9.      Students will learn how to read a mathematical text and understand the logical steps.

10.  Students will learn the specific language of mathematical proofs.

11.  Students will learn how to write a rigorous mathematical proof.

12.  Students will learn how to communicate mathematics with their instructor and with their peers.

 

Prerequisite

A grade of C or higher in Math 3260.

 

Technology

A graphic calculator may be handy at times.

 

Topic outline

Part 1. Topics in number theory. 

Part 2. Modular arithmetic and systems of numbers. 

Part 3. Polynomials.
Part 4. Group theory.
Part 5. New structures from old.

 

Grading

Homework will be assigned and collected for a grade. There will be a list of assigned problems and one of suggested problems. I encourage you to work as many problems as you can, until you feel you grasp the concept.

In this course you will have to work with many new concepts and formal definitions. Do not try to memorize them. The best way to achieve understanding and to succeed in this course is to work many problems involving the new concepts.

Write the homework neatly and show your reasoning arguments. The homework will be checked for both accuracy and editing. Answers without work will not be given any credit.

Another component of the course will be class presentations. You will be asked to come in front of the class to present a proof or a homework problem. If you can do it without looking at your notes this will be the best proof that you grasp the concept and master the material.

Check my homepage http://math.kennesaw.edu/~agadidov for updates on the course.  

Your grade will be based on your performance on homework assignments, class participation, and tests. There will be four semester exams and a final comprehensive exam. The final is scheduled on Monday, December 10, 9:30 – 11:30 am.

Make-up tests will not be given unless there are exceptional circumstances.  If you must miss a test, you should notify me in writing before the scheduled test time.  

Regular attendance is assumed. Students are responsible for all material covered and any announcements made in class. Please notify me if you know you will be absent for certain class periods. We can work together to ensure understanding of the material you might have missed. By all means, do not wait until it is too late to ask for help, and do not try to find help outside the department. If you cannot come to my office during the official office hours I can try to accommodate you at another time. 

Grades will be assigned as follows: 

Homework and class participation

150p 

 

Grade

 

Exam 1

100p

 

A

90% and above

Exam 2

100p

 

B

between 80% and 90%

Exam 3

100p

 

C

between 70% and 80%

Exam4

100p

 

D

between 60% and 70%

Final exam

100p

 

F

below 60%

Tentative schedule of exams: 
Exam 1: Sept 12.
Exam 2: Oct 8. 
Exam 3: Nov 5.
Exam 4: Nov 26.

 

Academic 
misconduct

Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs.  Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University's policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards.  Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an "informal" resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct's minimal one semester suspension requirement.

 

Withdrawal
policy

Students who find that they cannot continue in college for the entire semester after being enrolled, because of illness or any other reason, should complete an official withdrawal form.  Forms may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.

Students who officially withdraw from the university with the approval of the registrar before mid-semester (including registration days) will be assigned grades of “W”, which will not affect their grade point average.  Students who officially withdraw after mid-semester (and before the last three weeks of the semester) will receive a "WF," which will be counted as an "F" in the calculation of the grade point average.  Those students who stop attending classes without notifying someone will be assigned failing grades, which jeopardize their chances of future academic success.

Students may, by means of the same withdrawal form and with the approval of the university Dean, withdraw from individual courses while retaining other courses on their schedules. This option may be exercised up until October 11, 2007.

This is the date to withdraw without academic penalty for Fall Term, 2007 classes.  Failure to withdraw by the date above will mean that the student has elected to receive the final grade(s) earned in the course(s).  The only exception to those withdrawal regulations will be for those instances that involve unusual and fully documented circumstances.

 

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