MATH 340: Algebra II: Rings and Fields
                           Fall 2017.
                        Michael Monagan

Lectures:  MWF 11:30am-12:20pm.  
           Mondays in AQ 3003
           Wednesdays and Fridays in K9500

Instructor: Michael Monagan : mmonagan@cecm.sfu.ca
  Office: TLX 10501, Phone (778) 782-4279
  My home page: http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/~mmonagan
  Course web page: http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/~mmonagan/teaching/MATH340Fall17
  Office hours: Mondays 2-4pm and Fridays 1-3pm.

Teaching Assistant: Stefan Hannie: shannie@sfu.ca
  Office: P 8495 (the CECM lab)
  Office hour: Wednesdays 4-5pm in AQ 4144

Grading:
  8 Assignments 24%   Hand in to dropoff box #6 outside AQ 4115
  1 Midterm     20%   Wednesday October 25th in class.
  1 Final Exam  56%   Sunday December 10th, 12:00-15:00

Textbook: Introduction to Applied Algebraic Systems.
          Normal R. Reilly   ISBN 978-0-19-536787-4
          Purchase the ebook version. I got it from
          https://kisslibrary.com/  for US $5.20

Content:  Chapter 1: Modular Arithmetic (approx 10 lectures)
          Chapter 2: Rings (approx 11 lectures)
          Chapter 2: Fields (approx 11 lectures)
          Chapter 3: Groups (approx 2 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
    which are abstract concepts, but, have many concrete instances,
    in particular polynomial rings and the field of complex numbers.
    The focus of the third part of the course is finite fields.
    Next I will give an introduction to two new objects, ideals and groups.
    Lastly, I will look at error correcting codes as an application
    of finite fields.
    As well as "covering the material", my goal is to teach you how to read
    and write proofs.

Cheating Policy: All instances of cheating will be reported.
    Do not lend or Email your assignment to another student.
    If you do and they copy it, you too will get 0 and will be reported.
    Do not post your assignment solutions on the web.
    If you do and I catch you I will give you 0 for
    entire assignment portion of your grade and recommend that you
    receive a FD grade (Fail with Academic Dishonesty).