MATH 340: Algebra II: Rings and Fields
                           Fall 2007.
                        Michael Monagan

Meets:  Lectures  MWF 10:30am in AQ 3159
        Tutorial  T    9:30am in AQ 2122
                      11:30am in AQ 2122 (cancelled?)
                  

Instructor: Michael Monagan : mmonagan@cecm.sfu.ca
  Office: TLX 10501, Phone (778) 782-4279
  Hours: Mon 12-1pm, Thu 9-10am, Fri 3-4pm
  Home page: http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/~mmonagan

Teaching Assistant: Suling Yang : syangc@sfu.ca
  Office: CECM lab


Grading:
  8 Assignments 20%
  1 Midterm     20%   Wednesday October 24th, during class
    Final Exam  60%   Wednesday December 12th, 12:00-15:00

Software: Maple will be used for some calculations.
          Maple is installed on the PCs and MACs in the open labs.

Textbook: Introduction to Applied Algebraic Systems.
          Normal R. Reilly

Content:  Chapter 1: Modular Arithmetic (approx 11 lectures)
          Chapter 2: Rings and Fields (approx 10 lectures)
          Chapter 2: Finite Fields (approx 10 lectures)
          Chapter 3: Groups (approx 3 lectures)

    The focus of the first part of the course is on learning to prove
    theorems about integers, equivalence relations and modular arithmetic.
    The focus of the second part of the course is on rings and fields,
    in particular polynomial rings and the field of complex numbers.
    The focus of the third part of the course is on the construction
    of finite fields and their application to error correcting codes.
    Lastly an introduction to groups and how they relate to rings and fields.

Cheating Policy:

    All cases of cheating will be reported to the registrar.
    If you are caught cheating (copying another students work)
    on an assignment you will get zero for all assignment work
    completed to that point.
    I will determine whether you have cheated by asking you to
    explain what you wrote.
    If you are caught cheating on the midterm or final, you will
    get zero for that exam.