Home page for
Math 558, SPRING 2009
Instructor:
Prof. Roitman
Office:
510 Snow
Office hours:
MW 10 - 11 a.m., TR 10:50 - 11:50 a.m. and by appointment.
E-mail:
roitman@math.ku.edu (preferred)
Phone:
864-4630 (not preferred)
Text:
Saul Stahl, Introductory Modern
Algebra: A Historical Approach, Wiley
Time and space:
TR 9:30 - 10:45 a.m., 1003 Malott
About the course:
The great themes of modern algebra are algorithms
(how to calculate things); unity
(seeing the same thing from different points of view; seeing many
things from the same point of view); and structure (working directly with an
underlying structure that manifests itself in superficially very
different ways). A historical approach allows us to see how the
general arises from the specific, and allows us to trace basic themes
as they develop over time.
How classes are
structured: In most classes there will be both in-class
group work and lectures. Questions are always encouraged.
Your
responsibility: You are responsible for doing homework and
handing it in on time, studying for and taking exams, participating in
group work in class, and preparing for class by doing assigned readings.
If you're new to
writing proofs: Many students have found the book How to read and do proofs by
Daniel Solow to be very helpful. I will be happy to meet with you to
work through as much of it as you need.
Homework
problems: Homework will be assigned nearly every
class, mostly due on Thursdays. Homework assignments can be
found here.
Answers to homework can
be found here.
Your grade:
Your grade will be based on homework, two midterms, one final, and the
reading quizzes (explained below). The breakdown is:
Homework: 100 points
First
exam: 100 points
Second
exam: 100 points
Final
exam: 200 points
Reading
quizzes: 50 points
What is
a reading quiz?
A reading quiz briefly asks about reading assigned in advance of
class. It does not
ask for detail. For example, if you were assigned to read in a
calculus class about the definition of derivative, you might be asked,
"The derivative f'(a) is the slope of what line?" A perfect answer
would be, "The tangent line to the curve y = f(x) at the point x = a."
But the less precise answer of "the tangent line" would also get
credit, because it tells me that you have a pretty good idea what we're
about to learn formally. Reading quizzes will be given on random days
at
the start of class, and will take no more than 5 minutes.
What kind of
homework will be given?
Homework problems will be varied, including but not limited to
calculations and proofs. Most of the problems will not be as
routine as in, say, a calculus class.
What
about late homework? Late homework is not
graded. But if you can't hand in homework on time, you should do
it anyway and come by my office to go over what you did.
What if I miss
a class? Because a good part of what you will learn comes
from in-class group activities, and because of the reading quizzes,
it's important to try to come to every class. If you absolutely
have to miss class (for example, if you're sick, or your car broke down
on the way in) come by my office to see what you've
missed. Both the homework and reading quiz grades will be
calculated so that missing one or two classes will not hurt you.
Important dates:
The first exam is Thursday February 26. The second exam
is Thursday April 9. The final
exam is Tuesday May 12, 7:30 - 10 a.m.
Review
problems for first exam.
Answers to
review problems for first exam.
Answers
to first exam.
Review
problems for second exam.
Answers to review problems for second
exam.
Answers to
second exam.
Review problems for final.