Math 371,
Spring
2008
Algebra
- Faculty: David
Harbater
- E-mail:
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
2-3, through April 28. Special office hour at 1-2 on Wed., May 7.
- TA: Shuvra
Gupta,
DRL 3E2, (215) 898-8175,
shuvra AT math.upenn.edu.
Course
structure:
- Lectures:
MWF 11-12, DRL A5.
- Labs: T or Th, 6:30-8:30pm, DRL
4C6.
- 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, Wed., Feb.
20 and Wed., April 2.
Final exam, Tues., May. 13, 12-2pm, DRL A4.
Review session for final exam: Sunday, May 11, 4pm, DRL 4C6.
Description of course:
This is the second
semester of a year-long undergraduate course in algebra. This semester
will emphasize topics concerning groups, rings, and fields. The basics of
linear algebra (as covered in Math 370) will be assumed, and will be used
where appropriate in the course.
The course will be varied,
involving theory, computations, and
examples. It is open to
undergraduate students, both to math majors and
others. Math 503 is a
more advanced and more theoretical course in
algebra than Math 371, and
that course is open both to undergraduate and
graduate students.
Students are expected to have taken Math 370 or the equivalent, and to be
familiar with vector spaces and matrices. Students who would like a
reference on linear algebra may wish to look at the book "Linear Algebra"
by K. Hoffman and R. Kunze, or the book of the same title by Lipschutz and
Lipson in the Schaum Outline series. Some prior familiarity with the
concepts of groups, rings, algebras, and fields would be helpful but not
essential. Students who would like another reference to the topics of
Math 371 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 371
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Harbater's Home Page.