MATH 340: Algebra II: Rings and Fields
                           Fall 2008.
                        Michael Monagan

Lectures:  MWF 11:30am in BH 10011

Tutorials:

   The regular tutorial is on Tuesdays at 9:30am and 10:30am in AQ 5007.
   However, on some Tuesdays there will be a Maple tutorial instead, namely

      September 16, October 14, November 4 and November 25.

   Additionally, there will be one introductory tutorial on Maple on
   Thursday September 4th.  Maple tutorials will be held inMCF PC Lab 2,
   in AQ 3148 at 8:30am and 9:30am.  You should come to one of the two.

Instructor: Michael Monagan : mmonagan@cecm.sfu.ca
  Office: TLX 10501, Phone (778) 782-4279
  Home page: http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/~mmonagan
  Course web page: http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/~mmonagan/teaching/MATH340Fall08

  Office hours 2:00-3:00pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Teaching Assistant:

Grading:
  8 Assignments 24%
  1 Midterm     20%   Wednesday October 22nd, during class
    Final Exam  56%   Sunday December 7th, 15:30-18:30

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 11 lectures)
          Chapter 2: Finite Fields (approx 9 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 which is the subject of the next
    course MATH 341 Algebra III Groups given next semester.

Cheating Policy:

    If you are caught cheating (copying another students work)
    on an assignment you will get zero for the assignment.
    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.
    All cases of cheating will be reported to the registrar.