Winter 2008
Instructor:
Herbert B. Enderton
hbe@math.ucla.edu
Office MS 7905. Office hours Mon. & Wed. 2:00-3:30.
Check here for exam week office hours.
Teaching Assistant:
Michael O'Brien
mobrien@math.ucla.edu
Office MS 3973. Office hours Tues. 12-1, Wed. 2:30-3:30.
Our "virtual office hours" for this class are available 24/7.
"ALGEBRA"
The two main branches of mathematics are, roughly speaking, algebra and analysis. In this course, we study one of them. See also the Mathematics Department's description of this course, and their course outline.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 115A, which is relevant both because it studies abstract structures of a certain kind (namely, vector spaces), and because it emphasizes rigorous proofs. In Math 110A, our main order of business is also proving theorems (not calculating numbers). One cannot receive credit for both Math 117 and Math 110A.
Textbook: Abstract Algebra, second edition, by Thomas Hungerford. The book is available in the ASUCLA bookstore now. We cover Chapters 1-6. The same textbook will be used in Math 110B.
Homework: Yes! Although the homework problem sets account for only a small part of the course grade, you should definitely do them, in order to master the material. Besides, every little bit helps, especially if the tests do not all go well. Late homework will normally not be graded.
Tests: There will be a first midterm exam on Wednesday, January 30, and a second midterm on Friday, February 29. The final exam is on Thursday, March 20, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. (exam code 4).
Grading: The final exam constitutes a large part of the grade. The two midterms together constitute another large part. The homework accounts for a small part. ("Large" means 40-50%. "Small" means no more than 10%.) To get an Incomplete grade, you must be doing passing work when struck by unforeseen external disaster.
Website: http://www.math.ucla.edu/~hbe/110a.1.08w