Meeting Times: 11:00 to 11:50am, MWF in RBN 2012.

Last day to withdraw: March 25

Final Exam: Friday, May 8, 10:15 am

Instructor: Nathan Smith

Office: RBN 4007

Contact: 566-7216    nsmith@math.uttyler.edu

Web Page: http://math.uttyler.edu/nathan/

Office Hours: To be announced. See my web page for the latest.

Text: Abstract Algebra (3rd ed) by Dummit and Foote. ISBN 0471433349

Course Topics: An introduction to the main ideas of abstract algebra (e.g. homomorphism, isomorphism, substructures, actions) mostly in the specific setting of groups.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. The student will be able to apply the basic ideas of abstract algebra in computations and proofs.
2. The student will be able to communicate complex mathematical ideas both verbally and in writing.
3. The student will demonstrate the ability to do direct proofs, proofs by contradiction, proof by contraposition, and proof by induction (within an algebraic context).

Grading: Your grade will be determined by your performance in the following areas:

1. Tests numbers one and two
2. Homework
3. In-class presentations
4. The Final Exam

• The tests numbers one and two category will weight each of the tests evenly and the two tests will constitute one score toward your final grade.
• The sum of the percentages for category (1) through (4) must be 100%
• No single category may be weighted more than 35%
• No single category may be weighted less than 15%

In-class Presentations: In-class presentations are done by the student, typically on the board, but if you prefer to use a document camera or something else that is fine. Your score on the in-class presentations will depend upon the point value available for the particular presentation (determined by the difficulty level of the problem and anounced when the problems are assigned), the correctness and lucidity of your presentation, and your responses to questions from other students and your instructor. Your overall score for the in-class presentation part of your final grade will be computed by taking your score (let's call it y) and the larger of a preset target value (let's call this p, 50 is my best guess for the value of pnow, but I reserve the right to change that if it ends up being too high) and the maximum total achieved by a student in the class (let's call this m), and assigning you the ratio y/max(p,m).

Warning: One cannot learn mathematics at this level by merely watching others do it. Rather, one has to "dig into" the material oneself. This includes reading the book (our text is one of the most readable texts on this topic) and thinking about and working homework problems, both alone and with others. This class is almost certainly more difficult than the hardest mathematics class you have taken up to this point, and in order to be successful you will have to work harder than you have worked in other courses. You will probably find it necessary to work almost daily on this course, certainly work will be necessary between each class meeting.

Missed work: It is not expected that you will miss the tests. If an emergency situation, your final exam grade will be used to replace your midterm. Lack of preparation on your part will not be considered an emergency by the instructor.

University Policies: For University policies concerning Students' Rights and Responsibilities, Grade Replacement/Forgiveness, State-Mandated Corse Drop Policy, Disability Services, Student Absence due to Religios Observance, Student Absence for University-Sponsored Events and Activities, and the Social Security and FERPA Statement please see:

http://www.uttyler.edu/academicaffairs/syllabuspolicies.pdf