MATH 171 - First Day Handout
Abstract Algebra - Spring 2014
General information
The class webpage is a good source
for all class related information; in particular, homework
assignments will be posted on the class webpage weekly. Please
check it regularly.
Catalog course description:
The course will introduce the fundamental structures of abstract
algebra, including groups, rings, fields, vector spaces, and
modules; polynomial and field extensions. Applications to number
theory will be presented.
Prerequisite:
MATH 60 or instructor's consent.
Material to be
covered:
Topics for this course include groups, group actions, rings, and
fields. The particular week-by-week schedule of the course will
correspond to the weekly homework assignments, which will be
displayed on the class webpage as we progress.
Grading policy
Class attendance and homework
completion are required parts of the course. Homework
assignments will be regularly posted on the course webpage and
collected every Wednesday. Late homework will not be accepted. There will
be two in-class midterm exams
and a final exam. Here
is the tentative exam
schedule.
Midterm 1:
Wednesday, February 19, in class
Midterm 2:
Wednesday, April 2, in class
Final Exam:
Wednesday, May 14, 7:00 - 10:00 pm in RN 105
Make-ups for exams will only be given with documented
CMC-approved excuses (see College Regulations).
The grade break-down will
be as follows:
The grading scale used for this
class will be:
- 95-100% = A, 90-94% = A-
- 85-89% = B+, 80-84% = B, 75-79% = B-
- 70-74% = C+, 65-69 % = C, 60-64% = C-
- 57-59% = D+, 52-56% = D, 50-51% = D-
- 0-49% = F
I reserve the right to introduce a curve (up or down) at the end of
the semester depending on the class's overall performance.
Additional resources
There is tutoring
available in Adams 209 Sunday through Thursday from 8 to 10 pm.
Here is also information about the Claremont Center for Mathematical Sciences
(CCMS) Software Lab, a valuable source of software
assistance:
The CCMS Software Lab is a collaborative
consortium-wide effort that provides timely and much needed software
support to any member of the Claremont community who requests it.
Our Lab Mentors are undergraduate and graduate students of the seven
institutions of the Claremont University Consortium who are trained
to work with other students in projects involving the use of a
variety of advanced mathematical, statistical or data analysis
tools. We provide drop-in support on several packages including
STATA, R, LaTeX, SPSS, MATLAB, Java, C++. You can find us in our
special computer lab at the Honnold-Mudd Library! For more
information, including our weekly schedule, please check out:
http://ccms.claremont.edu/CCMS-Software-Lab
Special policies
Please
notice
that confidentiality reasons prevent me from providing you with
any information regarding your performance in this class except
for in person. Please DO NOT email or call with any kind
of grade inquiries.
The following are basic rules that all students should follow in
order not to disturb the class.
- Please make sure to turn off all you cellular phones, pagers,
and any other devices that make noise before entering class.
Please do not text during the lecture.
- Please do not come late or leave early; if on some occasion it
is necessary and cannot be avoided, please do it in a way that
does not disturb the class.
The use of
calculators, or any other electronic devices, as well as any books
or notes, is prohibited during all tests.
Important dates
- February 3,
Monday: Last day for adding courses for the
Spring semester.
- March 13,
Thursday: Last day to drop courses; last day to opt
for CR/NC grading in elective courses.
- March 17-21,
Monday-Tuesday: Spring break.
- May 7, Wednesday:
Last class meeting.
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the
class policies.
All printed
handouts and web-materials are protected by US Copyright
Laws. No multiple copies can be made without written
permission by the instructor.