Course Description:

Description: Group theory, ring theory, and linear algebra. For prelim preparation, see the prelim study guide.

Prerequisites: This is a graduate level abstract algebra class, so familiarity with algebra (at the undergraduate level) is expected.

Meets: at MONT 113, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 12:30pm – 1:45pm.

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About the Instructor: Álvaro Lozano-Robledo

I’m a Professor of Mathematics and my research is in arithmetic geometry (number theory meets algebraic geometry).

Website: https://alozano.clas.uconn.edu/
Office hours: Mondays 1-2pm (online – find link in HuskyCT or email), Tuesdays 3-4pm (in-person at MONT 233), or by appointment.

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Books and Other Resources:

The books for this course are

• “Abstract Algebra,” by David S. Dummit, Richard M. Foote, 3rd edition (or 2nd edition, really).
• “Linear Algebra Done Right,” by Sheldon Axler.

Suggested exercises (see below for what problems are collected for homework):

• Dummit and Foote
  • 1.1 #8,9,11,12,20,22,26,30; 1.2 #3,7,9,10; 1.3 #1,10,11; 1.4 #4,8,10,11; 1.5 #1; 1.6 #2,7,13, 20,23,25,26; 1.7 #8,12,15,16,17,19; 
  • 2.1 #1,6,8,10,14; 2.2 #2,3,11,12,13,14; 2.3 #3,5,10,20,21,23,26
  • 3.1 #1,12,14,22,31,35,36,40,41; 3.2 #5,8,11,12,16,22; 3.3 #4,7; 
  • 4.1 #2,9,10; 4.2 #2,11,14; 4.3 #3,7,23,24,25,26,29,36; 4.4 #1,2,12,17; 4.5 #13,20,27,32,33,34,39,40,51
  • 5.5 #6,14,16,18,22,23; 
  • 7.1 #7,13,17,26,27,29; 7.2 #3,5,10,12,13; 7.3 #6,8,10,24,26,28,33,35; 7.4 #7,8,11,13,27,30,31,37,39,41; 7.5 #2,3,5; 7.6 #1,5,7,8,9,10,11
  • 8.1 #3,7,8,9,10,11; 8.2 #1,3,5,8; 8.3 #5,6,7,8; 9.3 #1,4; 9.4 #2,9,17,18
• Axler:
  • 1.B: problems 1, 4, 6
  • 1.C: problems 1, 4, 7, 10, 19, 20, 21, 24.
  • 2.A: problems 3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 16
  • 2.B: problems 3, 5, 7
  • 2.C: problems 5, 9, 11, 14, 16
  • 3.A: problems 1, 4, 7, 10, 11
  • 3.B: problems 1, 3, 5, 17, 27,
  • 3.C: problems 2, 6, 12
  • 3.F: problems 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 18, 27.
  • 5.A: problems 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 18, 21

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Homework, Quizzes:

Homework will be assigned and collected every other week. Homework will be graded.

Homework: 

The homework problem sets will be posted here. The first 3 homework sets refer to Dummit and Foote, the 4th homework set refers to Axler.

• Homework Set 1 (due 9/12)
  • 1.1 #22, 26; 1.2 #7; 1.3 #11; 1.4 #10,11(a)-(b)
• Homework Set 2 (due 10/10)
  • 1.6 #26; 1.7 #19; 2.1 #6; 2.2 #12(d)-(f); 2.3 #23
  • 4.2 Cor 5, #14; 4.3 #29; 4.4 #12; 4.5 #34; 5.5 #6
• Homework Set 3 (due 11/19)
  • 7.1 #26; 7.2 #5 (in part (a), only show the inverse); 7.3 #35; 7.4 #37
  • 7.5 #5; 7.6 #10; 8.1 #8; 8.2 #5; 8.3 #5
• Homework Set 4 (due 12/5)
  • 1.B: #6; 1.C: #20; 2.A: #5; 2.B: #3; 2.C: #14; 3.A: #7; 3.B: #27; 3.C: #2; 3.F: #7; 5.A: #12

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Exams and Class Grade:

There will be one in-class midterm and a final exam. The midterm will cover about 7 weeks of material, while the final will be cumulative. Both exams will be take-home exams. While collaboration for homework is encouraged, exams cannot be discussed with anyone and your work must be entirely your own.

The total grade will be computed as follows:

• Homework: 100
• Midterm Exam (take-home — due Tuesday, October 15th): 125
• Final Exam (TBA): 175
• Total: 400

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Course Outline:

Week	Topics	Notes
1	Examples of groups
	Quotient groups, homomorphisms, cyclic groups
2	Dn, Sn, An, sign
	Homomorphism theorems
3	Centralizers, normalizers, group actions
	Orbits, stabilizers
4	Automorphisms, action of p-groups
	Cauchy’s theorem, subgroups of p-groups
5	Sylow theorems 1
	Sylow theorems 2
6	Semidirect products 1
	Semidirect products 2
7	Cyclic decomposition
	Axiom of choice, examples of rings, ring homomorphisms
8	Ideals, Quotient Ring, Ideals in R[X,Y]	— MIDTERM EXAM —
	Field, domain, principal ideals
9	Chinese remainder theorem
	Zorn’s lemma and maximal ideals
10	Rings of fractions, localization
	Euclidean domains
11	Irreducibility tests
	Euclidean domains, PIDs, and UFDs
12	Vector spaces: subspace and quotient space
	Basis, dimension, linear transformations (including matrix representation using a basis)
13	Dual spaces, dual of linear map, double duality
	Determinant and trace, characteristic polynomial
14	Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
	Inner product spaces, orthogonal and orthonormal bases, adjoint of linear map, spectral theorem for self-adjoint operator (over R).
15		— FINAL EXAM —

Vector spaces: subspace and quotient space, basis, dimension, linear transformations (including matrix representation using a basis). Dual spaces, dual of linear map, double duality. Determinant and trace, characteristic polynomial, eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Inner product spaces, orthogonal and orthonormal bases, adjoint of linear map, spectral theorem for self-adjoint operator (over R).

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Policy Statements:

Please refer to http://provost.uconn.edu/syllabi-references/ for the common policies we follow at UConn.

• Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Inappropriate Romantic Relationships — The University is committed to maintaining an environment free of discrimination or discriminatory harassment directed toward any person or group within its community – students, employees, or visitors.  Academic and professional excellence can flourish only when each member of our community is assured an atmosphere of mutual respect.  All members of the University community are responsible for the maintenance of an academic and work environment in which people are free to learn and work without fear of discrimination or discriminatory harassment.  In addition, inappropriate Romantic relationships can undermine the University’s mission when those in positions of authority abuse or appear to abuse their authority.  To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits discrimination and discriminatory harassment, as well as inappropriate Romantic relationships, and such behavior will be met with appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University. (More information is available at http://policy.uconn.edu/?p=2884.)
• Sexual Assault Reporting Policy — To protect the campus community, all non-confidential University employees (including faculty) are required to report assaults they witness or are told about to the Office of Diversity & Equity under the Sexual Assault Response Policy.  The University takes all reports with the utmost seriousness.  Please be aware that while the information you provide will remain private, it will not be confidential and will be shared with University officials who can help.  (More information is available at http://sexualviolence.uconn.edu/.)
• Attendance — Your instructor expects you to attend class regularly. Besides being nearly essential for developing your understanding of the material, your regular attendance in class is good for the morale of the class and is indicative of your interest in the subject and your engagement in the course. You are responsible for the material discussed in class and in the assigned reading in the text.
• Student Conduct Code — Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with UConn’s Student Conduct Code.
• Academic Integrity Statement — This course expects all students to act in accordance with the Guidelines for Academic Integrity at the University of Connecticut. Because questions of intellectual property are important to the field of this course, we will discuss academic honesty as a topic and not just a policy. If you have questions about academic integrity or intellectual property, you should consult with your instructor. Additionally, consult UConn’s guidelines for academic integrity.
• Students with Disabilities — The Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at UConn provides accommodations and services for qualified students with disabilities. If you have a documented disability for which you wish to request academic accommodations and have not contacted the CSD, please do so as soon as possible. The CSD is located in Wilbur Cross, Room 204 and can be reached at (860) 486-2020 or at csd@uconn.edu. Detailed information regarding the accommodations process is also available on their website at www.csd.uconn.edu.
• Final Exam Policy — In accordance with UConn policy, students are required to be available for their final exam and/or complete any assessment during the time stated. If you have a conflict with this time you must obtain official permission to schedule a make-up exam with the Office of Student Support and Advocacy (OSSA). If permission is granted, OSSA will notify the instructor. Please note that vacations, previously purchased tickets or reservations, graduations, social events, misreading the assessment schedule, and oversleeping are not viable reasons for rescheduling a final.

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