Math 418, Intro to Abstract Algebra II
Spring 2022
Course Description
This is a second course in abstract algebra, covering the
following topics:
- Rings: Polynomial rings, fields of fractions, and
other examples. Euclidean domains, principal ideal domains, and
unique factorization domains.
- Fields: Field extensions and Galois Theory.
Solvability of equations by radicals. Ruler and compass
constructions.
- Algebraic geometry: Basic correspondence between ideals
and varieties in affine and projective space, with examples such as
elliptic curves. Decomposition into irreducibles, Hilbert's
Nullstellensatz, and connections to Galois Theory.
Prerequisites:
The needed background for this course is Math 417, Intro to
Abstract Algebra. Math 427 is also fine, though there is some overlap
between that course and this one.
Required text: Dummit and Foote, Abstract Algebra,
3rd Edition, 944 pages, Wiley 2003. As of Jan
24, the campus bookstore still has the wrong text listed for this
course, so you will need to purchase this elsewhere.
Supplementary texts: For the final part of the course
covering algebraic geometry, one good reference beyond Chapter 15
of Dummit and Foote is:
Cox, Little, and O'Shea, Ideals, Varieties, and Algorithms,
Springer Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics.
You can get it in PDF format via the library's
e-book collection. Another nice book is, which is also freely
available online is:
Reid, Undergraduate
Algebraic Geometry.
Grading
Your course grade will be based on:
- Weekly homework assignments: (20%) These will typically
be due on Wednesday. They are to be turned in on paper at the
start of the class period. If you are unable to attend due
to illness or quarantine, you can email me a PDF single file with a
scan of your HW; if using your phone/tablet, please use an app
designed for this purpose, such as Abobe Scan (iOS,
Android).
Late homework will not be accepted; however, your lowest two
homework grades will be dropped, so you are effectively allowed two
infinitely late assignments. Collaboration on homework is permitted,
nay encouraged. However, you must write up your solutions
individually and understand them completely.
- Two takehome midterms: (12.5% each) These are glorified
HW assignments that you are to work on individually. They will
replace the usual HW for two weeks of the term.
- In class midterm: (20%) This 50 minute exam will be held
in our usual classroom, on Monday, March 9.
- Final exam: (35%) This will be Wednesday, May 11 from
1:30-4:30am in our usual classroom.
You can view your HW and exam scores here.
Schedule
- Jan 19
-
Introduction.
- Jan 21
-
Euclidean Domains.
- Jan 24
-
Principal Ideal Domains.
- Jan 26
-
PIDs are UFDs.
HW 1 due
(Solutions).
- Jan 28
-
Which polynomial rings are UFDs?
- Jan 31
-
R[x] is a UFD
if R is; irreducibility criteria.
- Feb 2
-
Field extensions I.
HW 2 due.
(Solutions).
- Feb 4
-
Field extensions II.
- Feb 7
-
Algebraic numbers and extensions.
- Feb 9
-
More on algebraic extensions.
HW 3 due.
(Solutions).
- Feb 11
-
Field multiplication as linear
transformations.
- Feb 14
-
Limitations of straightedge and
compass.
- Feb 16
-
Constructible numbers.
Takehome #1 due.
(Solutions).
- Feb 18
-
Splitting fields.
- Feb 21
-
Algebraically closed fields; the
Fundamental Theorem of Algebra.
Here are
various proofs of the of the
Fundamental Theorem of Algebra.
- Feb 23
-
Polynomials with distinct roots; separability criterion.
HW 4 due.
(Solutions).
- Feb 25
-
Finite fields; cyclotomic fields.
- Feb 28
-
Cyclotomic polynomials and
applications.
- Mar 2
-
Introduction to Galois Theory.
HW 5 due.
(Solutions).
- Mar 4
-
Galois groups of splitting fields.
- Mar 7
-
In class midterm.
(Solutions).
- Mar 9
-
Primitive extensions and
minimal polynomials.
- Mar 11
-
No class, read about The
Fundamental Theorem of Algebra instead.
- Mar 12
- Spring Break starts.
- Mar 20
- Spring Break ends.
- Mar 21
-
Finite fields and degrees of fixed
fields.
- Mar 23
-
The Fundamental Theorem of Galois
Theory I.
- Mar 25
-
The Fundamental Theorem of Galois Theory II.
HW 6 due.
(Solutions).
- Mar 28
-
Possible Galois groups and the
discriminant
- Mar 30
-
Galois groups of polynomials.
- Apr 1
-
Solving equations by radicals; solvable
groups.
- Apr 4
-
Characterizing solvability by
radicals.
- Apr 6
-
Introduction to Algebraic Geometry.
HW 7 due.
(Solutions).
- Apr 8
-
Radical ideals and the
Nullstellensatz.
- Apr 11
-
Decomposition into irreducibles and
more on Hilbert's results. Also, here is a
proof of the Nullstellensatz for arbitrary fields.
- Apr 13
-
Functions on varieties.
HW 8 due.
(Solutions).
- Apr 15
-
Projective space I.
- Apr 18
-
Projective space II.
- Apr 20
-
Elliptic curves.
Takehome #2 due.
(Solutions).
- Apr 22
-
Topology of curves and function fields
of varieties.
- Apr 25
-
Rational functions and field
extensions.
-
- Apr 27
- Rational functions and field extensions II.
HW 9 due
(Solutions).
- Apr 29
-
Branched covers.
- May 2
-
Cayley graphs and branch covers.
- May 4
-
Branched covers and the Riemann Existence Theorem.
HW 10 due
(Solutions).
- May 11
-
Final exam from 1:30-4:30 in usual classroom.
Practice exam (from 2015)
with solutions.