f15-mas5311-syllabus

MAS 5311 Introduction to Algebra 1

Fall 2015

Course Section Period Meeting Time Room
MAS 5311 8526 MWF 3rd 9:35 – 10:25 Lit 201
MAT 4930 2E15 MWF 3rd 9:35 – 10:25 Lit 201

Professor Alexandre Turull

480 Little Hall
(352) 294 2337
turull@ufl.edu

Office Hours

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
12:50 – 1:40 12:50 – 1:40 12:50 – 1:40

Also by appointment

Basic information:

This course is the first part of a two semester sequence.
In this sequence the student is to learn the basic concepts and
results in algebra.
Full mathematical rigor and abstraction is used throughout.
It should prepare for the First Year Algebra Exam.
Sample problems
for both the First Year Algebra Exam, and the Final Exam for this course
are available. In addition, past exams
can be found at http://gma.math.ufl.edu/past-exams/first-year-algebra/

Textbook:


Abstract Algebra, 3rd Edition, by D. S. Dummit and R. M. Foote
In the first semester, we will cover most of chapters 1 – 6.
Reading and homework will be assigned and discussed in class.
You are expected to participate in classroom discussions.

Some Major Topics:

  • Centralizers, normalizers, stabilizers, kernels.
  • Cyclic groups and their subgroups.
  • Isomorphism Theorems.
  • Composition series and the Jordan-Holder Theorem.
  • Cayley’s Theorem.
  • Sylow Theorems.
  • Classification of certain classes of finite groups, including direct products,
    semi-direct products and the statement of the Fundamental Theorem of Abelian Groups.

UF grading policies for assigning grade points

See https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx

Students with disabilities

Students with disabilities requesting accommodations should first register with the
Disability Resource Center (352-392-8565, http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/) by providing appropriate documentation. Once registered, students will receive an accommodation letter which must be presented to the instructor when requesting accommodation. Students with disabilities should follow this procedure as early as possible in the semester.

Attendance policy

Students are expected to attend class regularly.

The UF policy on attendance is here:
https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx

Honor Code

UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states, “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honor and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code.”

On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either
required or implied: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.”

The Honor Code
(http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/process/student-conduct-honor-code/)
specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions. Furthermore, you are obliged to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate personnel. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor of this class.

Website

http://people.ufl.edu/turull/f15-mas5312-syllabus

Tests (Written medical
documentation is required for makeup tests.)

Test 1: Friday, September 25

Test 2: Friday, October 16

Test 3: Friday, November 13

Test 4: Monday, December 7

Final: Thursday, December 17, 12:30 — 2:30 p.m.

Final grade:

Best 3 of four 40 point tests    120
final   80
Total 200
A ≥ 180   C ≥ 140
A- ≥ 173   C- ≥ 133
B+ ≥ 167   D+ ≥ 127
B ≥ 160   D ≥ 120
B- ≥ 153   D- ≥ 113
C+ ≥ 147   E < 113

Missed tests:

Any missed test will be assigned a zero.

Since it is expected that some students will miss a test because of medical reasons, the following policy will apply to all students. For the final grade computation, only the three best test grades will be used.

Make-up tests:

Because of the policy on missed tests, it is extremely unlikely that a make-up test will be offered. If a student needs to miss two tests, he or she needs to contact the instructor as soon as possible and provide extensive documentation.

Course evaluation:

Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing online evaluations at https://evaluations.ufl.edu. Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three weeks of the semester, but students will be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students at https://evaluations.ufl.edu/results/