MATH 421/521
Fall 2008

Student Information Sheet

ALGEBRA II (3): Homomorphisms and factor groups; commutative rings, with emphasis on polynomial rings; fields and algebraic extensions. Applications to classical geometric problems.

TEXT: Abstract Algebra, 3rd Ed., by Beachy and Blair

INSTRUCTOR: John Beachy, Watson 355, Phone 753-6753     Office Hours: TBA

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The student is expected to continue learning the basic results on groups, rings, and fields. The concepts of homomorphism and quotient structure (using an appropriate equivalence relation) are of particular importance. The course will end with a proof of the impossibility of certain geometric constructions.

GRADING: Grades will be assigned on the basis of 600 points, with 3 hour exams worth 100 points each, homework worth a total of 100 points, and the final exam worth 200 points.

SYLLABUS: Sections 4.1-4.4, 3.6-3.8, 5.1-5.4, 6.1-6.3

Monday      Wednesday    Friday           M Tu  W Th  F
 4.1           4.2                   AUG 25 26 27 28 29
Holiday        4.3                   SEP  1  2  3  4  5
 4.3           4.4                        8  9 10 11 12
 3.6          EXAM 1                     15 16 17 18 19
 3.6           3.7                       22 23 24 25 26
 3.7           3.7                       29 30  1  2  3
 3.8           3.8                   OCT  6  7  8  9 10
 3.8          EXAM 2                     13 14 15 16 17
 5.1           5.1                       20 21 22 23 24
 5.2           5.2                       27 28 29 30 31
 5.3           5.3                   NOV  3  4  5  6  7
 5.4          EXAM 3                     10 11 12 13 14
 6.1           6.1                       17 18 19 20 21
 6.2         Holiday                     24 25 26 27 28
 6.2           6.3                   DEC  1  2  3  4  5
FINAL                                     8  9 10 11 12