Math 370, Spring 2014

Algebra

Faculty: David Harbater
Email: harbater AT math.upenn.edu
Telephone: (215) 898-9594; Department office: (215) 898-8178
Office: DRL 4E2A; Department office: DRL 4W1-6.
Office hours: M 1:30-2:30.
Lectures: MWF 11-12, DRL A2.
Teaching Assistants:
- Taisong Jing, Labs 101-102, Office: DRL 3N2C, Off. Hrs. M 10:30-11:30am & W 1:30-2:30pm, Phone: (215) 898-5078. Email: taisong AT math.upenn.edu
- Neel Patel, Labs 103-104, Office: DRL 4E14, Off. Hrs. M 4-5pm & W 3-4pm, Phone: (215) 898-1437. Email: neelpa AT math.upenn.edu
Labs:
- Taisong Jing:
  - 101, Tu 6:30-8:30pm, DRL 3C4
  - 102, Th 6:30-8:30pm, DRL 3C4
- Neel Patel:
  - 103, Tu 6:30-8:30pm, DRL 4C6
  - 104, Th 6:30-8:30pm, DRL 4C6
Main textbook: "Linear Algebra" (second edition) by K. Hoffman and R. Kunze.
Supplementary textbook: "Topics in Algebra" (second edition), by I.N. Herstein.
Homework: Weekly problem sets, to be handed in at lab. (Bring two copies to lab: one to hand in at the beginning, and the other to consult when presenting solutions at the board. Students are encouraged to talk about the homework with others in their study group, but should write up and hand in their homeworks individually.)
Exams: Two midterm exams in class, Mon., Feb. 17 and Mon., March 31. Final exam: Wed., May 7, 9-11am, in Skirkanich Auditorium (basement of Skirkanich Hall, room 013S).
Grades: Course grades were based on exams (40%), homework (40%), and participation (20%). Detailed information about course grades.

Description of course: This is a the first semester of a year-long undergraduate course in linear and abstract algebra. The first semester will emphasize topics in linear algebra, such as matrices, vector spaces, linear transformations, inner products. Some aspects of abstract algebra (groups, rings, fields) will also be discussed in the first semester as relevant to the discussion of linear algebra; but the second semester (Math 371) will discuss those topics in greater depth.

The course will be varied, involving theory, computations, and examples. It is open to undergraduate students, both to math majors and others. The course is more in-depth and more theoretical than the linear algebra course Math 312. Math 502 is a more advanced and more theoretical course on abstract and linear algebra than Math 370, and that course is open both to undergraduate and graduate students. Students in Math 370 should have had some exposure to vectors and matrices, e.g. in Math 240. Students who would like to consult an additional text on linear algebra may wish to look at the book "Linear Algebra Done Right" by Sheldon Axler, or at the paperback "Linear Algebra" by Seymour Lipschutz and Marc Lipson in the Schaum Outline series. Those who would like another reference for abstract algebra may wish to consult "A First Course in Abstract Algebra" by John Fraleigh, or "Schaum's Outline of Abstract Algebra" by Lloyd Jaisingh.

Homework assignments for Math 370

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