Syllabus for Math 417, Section B13, Spring 2013

Introduction to Abstract Algebra

• Professor: Eugene Lerman
• Office: 336 Illini Hall
• Phone: (217) 244-9510
• email: lerman( at )math. uiuc. edu (the best way to contact Eugene Lerman)
• Home page: http://www.math.uiuc.edu/~lerman
• Course page: http://www.math.uiuc.edu/~lerman/417/s13/s13.html
  ( homework assignments are posted at http://www.math.uiuc.edu/~lerman/417/s13/s13hw.html )
• Office Hours: see my calender and/or by appointment
• Class meets:
• MWF  9 am, 347 Altgeld
• Prerequisites: Officially either math 416 or one of MATH 410, MATH 415 together with one of MATH 347, MATH 348, CS 373; or consent of instructor. In practice, ability to understand and write proofs.

We will study Chapters 1 - 6.

Other Textbooks: (on reserve in the Math Library)

• Michael Artin, Algebra, (2nd edition) Prentice Hall, 1991. [a bit more advanced than the recommended textbook with alternative approaches]
• Garrett Birkhoff and Saunders MacLane, A survey of modern algebra , (4th Edition), Macmillan, 1977. [a classic book; more advanced than the recommended textbook]

• Homework: Homework problems are to be assigned once a week. They are due the following week. No late homework will be accepted.
• Exams: There will be quizzes, two midterms and a final. You have to pass the final to pass the course. All exams will be closed book. The midterms will take place on March 1 and April 19 (the dates are not likely to change). The final, according to the non-combined final examination schedule is to take place on 8:00–11:00 AM, Monday, May 6 in the regular classroom.

• Grade: The formula for the course grade is roughly as follows:
• final exam = 35 %
• 2 midterms at 20 % each = 40%
• homework, quizzes = 25%
There is no plan for a curve