Math 402, Joel M. Cohen (Fall, 2011)

This WEB page is jcohen.me/402, and was last updated:  8/31/11

Title: College Algebra with Applications
Instructor: Professor Joel M. Cohen

Office: MTH 2313, Telephone: (301)405-5109
Home phone: (202)546-1823.

Class Time: T-Th, 11:00 - 12:15
Location: Math 0407
Book:  Contemporary Abstract Algebra, seventh edition by Joseph Gallian
Web Program supplement: There is an useful set of software programs that will help with some of the homework problems.  It was written for an earlier edition, but could still be useful.
 http://www.d.umn.edu/~jgallian/msproject/project_head.html .
Grader: TBA

Office Hours: T-Th 1:00-2:00.  Occasionally, it may be necessary to change this time, so let me know if you are planning to see me. Feel free  to ask for an appointment at a different time if you cannot see me during those hours. You can also send me email. I will answer queries as quickly as possible during office hours, and as time permits otherwise.

    This is the less theoretical of the two upper-level undergraduate abstract algebra courses at the University of Maryland.  (Students planning graduate work in mathematics should take the other course which is Math 403.)  It will cover the basics of groups, rings, integral domains and fields. There will be a detailed study of several groups, and a study of the properties of integers and polynomials.  Emphasis is on the origin of the mathematical ideas studied and the logical structure of the subject.

    Makeup exams will not be given.  If you have an excused absence for an exam, the grade will be replaced by 1/2 of the final exam grade.  Excused absences will be given only with documentation and only for valid medical reasons, University business, or appearances in court.  Excused homework will not be used in computing the final grade.   Any unexcused absences on exams or unexcused late homework will be counted as 0, including the final exam.  Any student with a valid reason to be excused from an exam must contact me prior to the exam, either by email or by phone, and present documentation at the next class session attended.   If you need to be excused for a religious observance, you should let me know as soon as possible, but in any case no later than the end of the schedule adjustment period.
 
 

Homework:  Homework problems from the text are listed below.  Requested problems will be discussed in class.  Homework will be due each Tuesday, and will be on all the chapters covered up to the previous Thursday. 
 

Grading: A total of 600 points is available in the course:
 


Three hour exams (100 points,  lowest counts half) 250

Final 200

Homework 150

Total 600

Web Posting:  If you have given written permission to post your grades, you may check them by clicking here.

Quality: The quality of presentation of solutions will be taken seriously in this course in the grading of tests and quizzes.
 

The schedule of exams follows:
 

Thursday,  September 22
 Test I
Thursday,  October 20
 Test II
Thursday,  December 1
 Test III
Thursday,  December 15, 8:00am-10:00 am Final

A tentative schedule of homework follows.
 
 


Homework Assignments §

The following is a very preliminary set of assignments.  There are likely to be changes, so keep followiing this website.
 

Page Problems
Chapter 0 21 1,2,3,17,25,36,39
Chapter 1 35 1,2,3,13
Chapter 2 51 1,2,3,4,9,16,33
Chapter 3 65 1,2,3,5,10,23,29,45
Chapter 4 79 1,2,3,5,13,27,38,46,57
Chapter 5 107 1,3,5,8,17,18,25,36,49
Chapter 6 126 1,2,7,11,24,31
Chapter 7 142 2,6,10,12,17,21,28,34,43,
Chapter 8 161 1,2,8,15,25,38,52
Chapter 9 185 1,10,12,27,32,35,37,44,48,53,54,62,67
Chapter 10 203 1,6,12,13,18,26,35*,36*,42,53
Chapter 11 217 1,2,3,4,6,11,15,20,30
Chapter 12 203 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,10,17,18,25,39,42
Chapter 13 242 2,5,17,20,24,31,42,52
Chapter 14 269
 4, 11, 16, 33, 39
Chapter 15 287
 5, 6. 17, 27, 32, 36, 44
Chapter 16 287 3,11,17,27,32,42
Chapter 17 303 1,3,4,14,25,32
Chapter 18 320 1,7,9,13,21,34
Chapter 20 354 2,7,13,27
Chapter 21 367 8, 16, 24
Chapter 22 379 1,7,12,25,30
Chapter 23 387 1,2,3,4,7,11,13,18,20

    * Not to hand in.  Please stare at them long enough to understand the meaning.  Try to do an example.

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§ Changes in the program are possible.  The Math 402 WEB PAGE (http://jcohen.me/402) will be kept up-to-date as changes are made.

You are responsible for checking these updates.

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