Abstract Algebra I

MW 4:35-5:55, Skiles 246

OFFICE HOURS: Tues 11-12 or by appointment.


Textbook: Topics in Algebra by I.M. Herstein.

Topics covered:

Week 1: Equivalence relations, mappings, definition of groups, subgroups, homomorphisms, cosets, examples. Sections 1.2, 2.1-2.4.
Week 2: More examples. Counting. Sections 2.5-2.6.
Week 3: Homomorphisms, Normal Subgroups, Quotient Groups, Cauchy's Theorem. Sections 2.6-2.7.
Week 4: Automorphisms, Cayley's Theorem, Permutation groups. Sections 2.8-2.10.

Week 5: Sylow theorems. Sections 2.11-12.

Assignments:

Assignment 1 (due Mon, Sept 10). Page 35: Problems 1,2,3,10,21,22,24,25,26. Page 46: Problems 1,2,3,4,5,6.
Assignment 2 (due Wed, Sept 26). Page 48: Problems 18, 21, 22,23, 29,30,31. Page 53: Problems 1-6, 8-11.
Assignment 3 (due Mon, Oct 15). Page 64: Problems 1-5. Page 80: Problems 1-5, 7, Page 90: Problems 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Mid-term: Mon, Oct 15, in class.
Assignment 4 (due Wed, Nov 7). Page 102: Problems 7,8,13,21,22,23.
Assignment 5 (due Mon, Novv 26 ). Page 116: Problems 1,4,5. Page 152: Problems 1,2,3.
Saugata Basu