Instructor Name: Dustin Cartwright
Office Hours: M 2:00–3:00, W 11:15–12:15 by appointment in Ayres 210. Zoom by appointment.
Email: cartwright@utk.edu
Course Webpage: All further information, including updates to this syllabus, will be on the Canvas webpage for this course.
Course Communications: Reminders and routine announcements will be made in class. I will use Canvas announcements for important messages, especially those which come up between classes. I will only email you for urgent messages, such as class being canceled.
The best way for you to contact me is by email. I will reply within 24 hours during the work week, and usually faster, especially during working hours.
The primary objective of this course (together with its continuation) is to prepare you for the algebra prelim exam. The topics covered are foundational for understanding algebra or related fields. In the fall semester, specifically, we will introduce groups and rings.
I expect you to attend every lecture, pay attention, and participate in discussions. If something doesn’t make sense, ask questions.
During class, you should not use your laptop, cell phone, or other electronic devices. Taking notes on a tablet is allowed.
You should treat other students in the class with respect, in the classroom, and in anything connected with class.
Abstract Algebra by David S. Dummit and Richard M. Foote, 3rd edition.
Letter grades will be assigned based on the scale: A 90–100, A- 85–89, B+ 80–84, B 75–79, B- 70–74, C+ 65–69, C 60–64. I may adjust these to be more generous.
Homework: Homework is due by 7:00am on Thursdays. You will submit your homework by uploading a PDF on Canvas. You are encouraged to typeset your homework in LaTeX. Assignments will be available on Canvas at least a week in advance.
Your lowest homework grade will be dropped.
I will use submitted answers to make solutions and post those on Canvas. If you do NOT wish to have your answers shared, you may request that with your submission or by email. Otherwise, your homework submission is giving me permission to include it in the solutions.
Citation policy: You are strongly encouraged to collaborate with others on your homework. You must write your own homework solutions and you must credit any person or source who helped you understand the solution. You must make sure you understand your answer and write it out in your own words.
In-class midterm and final: The midterm and final will be taken without any books, notes, or electronic devices. The final is cumulative.
Take-home midterm: For the take-home midterm, you may use your own notes and the course textbook, but no other resources. In particular, you may not talk to other students in the class about the problems. The take-home midterm is cumulative and you will have one week to complete it.
Late homework will generally not be counted for credit. Instead, I will drop the lowest homework grade.
Missed exams will be excused only in circumstances which unavoidably prevent you from taking the exam, such as a medical or family emergency. All excuses must be documented, to be approved by the Student Life Division. Accommodation is at my discretion and may take the form of a make-up or by having the final replace the midterm component of your grade. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend an exam.
Go over the lecture material after each class, either from your own notes, or the corresponding section in the textbook. Talk to other people in the class. Come to office hours. Ask questions in class. Read the textbook. Read Wikipedia or other sources.
You are strongly encouraged to work with other students in this course on your homework. You will find that your peers know different things than you do and you can learn from the ways that they approach the problem. The process of explaining your ideas to someone else will help you to understand the material better.
If you find yourself struggling or falling behind, adjust sooner rather than later. Come to office hours. Go back over old material. Look for other resources.
The first part of the course will cover groups, beginning with basic definitions, the Sylow theorems, semidirect products, and p-groups. The second part will cover rings including ideals, factorization, and polynomials. The approximate schedule of daily topics is listed on the Canvas page “Daily schedule.”
The course assumes some background with groups and rings, so, we will review these concepts, but we will also move quickly.
If the instructor finds it necessary to make informational changes (e.g. office hours, schedule adjustments) due to students’ needs or unforeseen circumstances, students will be notified in writing/email of any such changes.