Abstract Algebra I

Department: 
MATH
Course Number: 
4107
Hours - Lecture: 
3
Hours - Lab: 
0
Hours - Recitation: 
0
Hours - Total Credit: 
3
Typical Scheduling: 
Every fall and spring semester

This course develops in the theme of "Arithmetic congruence, and abstract algebraic structures." There will be a very strong emphasis on theory and proofs.

Prerequisites: 

MATH 2406 or MATH 2106

Course Text: 

Suggested text book: Abstract Algebra, An Introduction, by T. Hungerford

Topic Outline: 
  • Review of some of the preliminary material. Basic set, logic, and proof terminology. Well-ordering principle, and equivalence relations - 4 lectures
  • Arithmetic in Z and congruence in Z. Division algorithm, congruence and congruence classes, modular arithmetic, and the structure of Z_p when p is a prime
  • Rings, fields, and polynomial ring F[x]. Definitions, examples, and basic properties of rings, integral domains, fields, ideals, congruences, quotient rings, homomorphisms and isomorphisms, fields of quotients. Division algorithm, irreducibles and unique factorization in F[x]. Polynomial functions and congruences in F[x]. The structure of F[x]/(\pi) when \pi is a prime in F[x] - 12 lectures
  • Groups. Definitions, examples and basic properties of groups, subgroups, normal subgroups. Isomorphisms and homomorphisms, quotient groups, congruence and Lagrange's theorem, the symmetric and alternating groups - 12 lectures
  • Other Topics. Finite abelian groups. The Sylow theorems. Splitting fields and finite fields - 12 lectures