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Math 371 - Algebra 4


Lecturer: Prof. Eyal Goren
Location and time: BURN 920, MWF 8:35-9:25
Office Hours: M 11:30 - 12:30, W 10:00-11:00 (BURN 1108), and you can also always catch me just after class for quick questions.

Syllabus: Introduction to modules and algebras; finitely generated modules over a principal ideal domain. Field extensions; finite fields; Galois groups; the fundamental theorem of Galois theory; application to the classical problem of solvability by radicals.
Pre-requisites: MATH 370 or equivalent.

Method of Evaluation:
15% assignments, 10% in-class quiz, 15% midterm, 60% final. Or, if better, 100% final.
There will be no make-up for the quiz, or the midterm; people not able to write those will get a mark of 0 for those, but can still enjoy the 100% final option.
Showing up to classes is not mandatory, but is strongly recommended. As well, attempting all the assignments is highly recommended.

Textbooks:
The official textbook for the course is my online notes. Note that these will be updated and expanded during the term. It is therefore wise to not actually print them until the end of the term. I will follow my notes quite closely, but quite often allow myself to deviate, or to give an alternative approach. In fact, as a rule of thumb, I shall attempt to provide examples in class that are not in the notes thereby providing you with more examples.
One can also consult the following very good text book, where most of the material can be found,
D. Dummit and R. Foote: Abstract algebra.


The course notes
Sami's question
Assignments
(There will be no solutions posted for the assignments, but, if possible, I will often stay after class to solve the harder exercises. You may come to office hours to ask about exercises you don't feel confident with; also see above regarding exercise sessions.)

QUIZ: Monday, February 3, 8:30 - 9:00 AM. In class. Topic: modules. Results were posted through MyCourses.
MIDTERM: Tuesday, March 11, 17:30 - 19:00 in BURN 1B23. The material is everything from the first lecture until "cyclotomic fields" (inclusive). You will be examined both on proofs and applications. The exam has 5 questions, each worth 27 points distributed equally between its subquestions. You may answer as many questions as you wish (the grade is capped at 100). You may answer certain subquestions based on previous subquestions, even if you haven't answered the previous subquestions. That being said, I'll be quite strict when marking. So simply scribbling some half-baked ideas is probably not the best strategy.
EXERCISE SESSIONS: Friday, 10:30-11:30, BURN 920.

External links:

Official stuff:
Academic integrity: 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).
Submitting work: In accord with McGill University’s Charter of Students’ Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded.
Syllabus and Grade Calculation: In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University’s control, the content and/or evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change.