Math 310, Section 003, Fall, 2010
Abstract Algebra

Course Information

Instructor: Matt Rathbun; A320 Wells Hall; mrathbun@math.msu.edu (e-mail is, by far, the best way to contact me); 517-353-6331

Course Time and Location: MWF, 11:30 am - 12:20 pm; C214 Wells Hall

Office Hours: Tuesday, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Friday, 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm, and by appointment

Text: Abstract Algebra by Hungerford

We will be covering Chapters 1-6, Appendices A,B, C and D, and if time allows, additional topics and Chapter 7.

Updates and Announcements

Reminder: the Final Exam is on Wednesday, December 15, 7:45-9:45am, in C214 Wells Hall!
I will be holding extra office hours next week. Monday 12-2, Tuesday 3-5.
Solutions to Homeworks 10 and 11 are posted below.
Reminder: the Final Exam is on Wednesday, December 15, 7:45-9:45am, in C214 Wells Hall!
The due date for Homework 11 has been changed. Homework 11 will be due on Friday, December 10 (the last day of class)!
Midterm 3 Solutions are here.
Solutions to Homework 9 are posted below.
Please note that Homework problem #4 from Section 5.2 is not due, and has been removed from the assignment below.
Solutions to Homework 8 are posted below.
Office hours on Tuesday, Nov. 9 are cancelled. I will hold make-up office hours on Wednesday, Nov. 10 from 12:30-1:30. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Solutions to Homework 7 are posted below.
Midterm 2 Solutions are here. (Sorry for the delay!)
Solutions to Homework 6 are posted below. Good luck on the Midterm on Wednesday!
Solutions to Homework 5 are posted below. I scanned some of YOUR solutions. Please come talk to me if you cannot read some of the solutions.
Solutions to Homework 4 are posted below. Please especially note the solutions to 3.1 #5, 3.2 #19, and 3.2 #12!
As attendance at Monday office hours has been lacking, I am changing my office hours. New office hours: Tuesday, 3:30-4:30, or still Friday, 12:30-1:30. Or, as always, by appointment.
Midterm 1 Solutions can be found here.
I will be holding extra office hours (by request) on Tuesday, September 21, from 3:30 to 4:30.
Midterm 1 is on Wednesday, September 22! It will cover Chapters 1, 2, and Appendix D.
Solutions to Homeworks 2 and 3 are posted below.

Course Policies

Prerequisites: Math 309 and completion of Tier I writing requirement.

Attendance: Attending lectures is highly recommended. That being said, it is up to you to learn the material. If you choose not to attend lectures, it is your responsibility to know what was covered in lecture by getting the notes from a friend, or whatever. If you are late to class, please try to be as respectful as possible to those who are already in class trying to pay attention. Also, please silence all cell phones or pagers before coming to class.

Academic Honesty: You are expected to adhere to the principles of academic truth and integrity of the University. Please see the Spartan Life website at http://splife.studentlife.msu.edu/#academicintegrity. Any violations of this code will be reported for investigation and disciplinary action. You are encouraged to work together on homework, but you should write up your final solutions on your own.

Missed Exams: There will be no make-up Exams. No exceptions. If there are valid (medical, religious, or University related activities) reasons for the absence, other exams may be re-weighted to account for the one missed.

Grading

Your course score will be calculated using the following weights:

Homework: 15%
Midterm 1: 15%
Midterm 2: 15%
Midterm 3: 15%
Final Exam: 40%

Your course scores may then be adjusted in such a way that your scores do not decrease, and your course grades will then be determined according the standard breakdown:

A(+/-) -- 90%-100%
B(+/-) -- 80%-89%
C(+/-) -- 70%-79%
D(+/-) -- 60%-69%
F -- Less than 60%

Exams

There will be 3 in-class Midterms on September 22, October 20, and November 24.

The Final Exam is Wednesday, December 15, (I'm sorry, this is not my doing) 7:45am - 9:45am in C214 Wells Hall.

Important Dates

Date	Event
Wednesday, 09/01	First day of class!
Monday, 09/06	Labor Day, no classes! University is closed.
Wednesday, 09/08	Online open add period for fall semester ends at 8pm.
Thursday 09/09 through Wednesday 09/15	Students go to Undergraduate Office A212 Wells Hall for Mathematics enrollment changes
Wednesday 09/15	Last day to late add a course or change sections within a course. Last day to drop to a lower level course.
Monday 09/27	End of 100% tuition refund.
Wednesday 10/20	Last day to drop a course without a grade being reported.
Thursday 11/25 and Friday 11/26	Thanksgiving Break!
Friday 12/10	Last day of classes!
Wednesday 12/15	Final Exam

Homework

Homework will be due once a week, generally on Mondays. I will only be grading a relatively small subset of the problems assigned, and checking for completeness. So please be sure to ask questions and ensure you understand the exercises. Doing math is the best (only?) way to learn it, and so the homework problems will be the best way to learn the material. Again, you are highly encouraged to work together on the homework! However, you should write up your final submissions on your own.

#	Due Date	Assignment	Solutions
1	Wed, Sep. 8	Read/study the course webpage, Appendix A, and Chapter 1 1.1 # 1a, 1b, 1c, 4, 5 1.2 # 4, 5, 7, 17
2	Mon, Sep. 13	Read/study Chapter 2 1.3 # 2, 6, 13, 23 2.1 # 2, 8, 11, 27	Solutions
3	Mon, Sep. 20	Read/study Appendix D (skip the numbered Examples) Appendix D # 5, 8, 16, 17 2.2 # 2, 6, 10 2.3 # 3, 4, 6	Solutions
4	Mon, Oct. 4	Read/study Chapter 3 3.1 # 1, 5, 6, 12, 14, 18, 27, 29 3.2 # 3, 4, 12, 13, 19	Solutions
5	Mon, Oct. 11	Read/study 4.1 and 4.2 3.3 # 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 21, 24, 25, 32 4.1 # 1, 3, 4, 6	Solutions
6	Mon, Oct. 18	4.1 # 7, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19 4.2 # 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 14	Solutions
7	Mon, Nov. 1	Read/study 4.3 and 4.4 4.3 # 2, 4, 6, 10, 15, 19, 20 4.4 # 1, 2, 5, 6	Solutions
8	Mon, Nov. 8	Read/study 5.1 and 5.2 4.4 # 7, 12, 13, 15, 17, 24 5.1 # 3, 5, 7, 12	Solutions
9	Mon, Nov. 15	Read/study 5.3 5.2 # 2, 3, 5, 11 5.3 # 1, 2, 3	Solutions
10	Mon, Nov. 22	Read/study 6.1 and 6.2 6.1 # 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13	Solutions
11	Fri, Dec. 10	Read/study 6.3 6.1 # 33, 38 6.2 # 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 21, 23 6.3 # 3, 5, 11, 13	Solutions

Math 310, Section 003, Fall, 2010 Abstract Algebra