189-235A: Basic Algebra I
Professor: Henri Darmon
TA's:
Gabriel Chenevert and
Shahab Shahabi.
Markers:
Ahmed Jaber
and
Mireille Schnitzer.
Classes: MWF 8:35-9:25. in Burnside Hall 1B45
Tutorials:
Shahabi: Monday 12:35 to 13:25 in BH1214
Chenevert: Tuesday 16:05 to 16:55 in ARTS 265.
Office Hours:
Darmon MW 10:30-12:00, in Burnside Hall 1111.
Chenevert Tu 10:00-12:00 and W 1:00-3:00 in BH 1034
Shahabi M 1:30-3:30 and F 11:00-1:00 in BH 1033
You may also wish to avail yourselves of the services of the math
help desk open all week from 12:30 to 5:00 in BH 911.
Recommended Texts:
Abstract
Algebra by Hungerford.
This book is a nice, pedagogical introduction
to the topics covered in the course,
and in fact we will be following the treatment in this book fairly closely.
So students who find the lectures challenging and would like a
textbook to rely on
will find this book helpful. It comes with a
hefty price tag though---try buying it used!
Syllabus: This course will cover the standard
syllabus for a
first year undergraduate course in abstract algebra.
The content and pace will be challenging:
emphasis will be placed on rigorous proofs, and on developping
mathematical
maturity and problem-solving skills.
Assignments:
Assignments
are to be turned in on Wednesdays and
returned, graded, the following Monday. There will be ten assignments in
all during the semester.
Grading Scheme : There are three possible schemes,
and I will take the maximum of those.
1. 20% Weekly assignments, 30% Midterm, 50% Final.
2. 20% Weekly assignments, 80% Final.
3. 100% Final.
Midterm:
Here is last year's midterm. (In
pdf,
ps,
dvi, or
tex formats.)
Here are the last year's midterm solutions. (In
pdf,
ps,
dvi, or
tex formats.)
The final grades:
Here are your final grades.
The obligatory statement
McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore, all students
must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and
other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and
Disciplinary Procedures (see www.mcgill.ca/integrity for more
information).