Announcement

• Course Outline [Download file]
• Lectures on Oct 22 (Mon) and Oct 29 (Mon) will be replaced by special tutorials, and Lectures on Oct 24 (Wed) will be cancelled.
• Makeup lectures will be held on Oct 13 (Sat) and Nov 3 (Sat), both at LSB LT2 during 1:30pm - 4:15pm.
• Reminder: A makeup lecture will be held on Oct 13 (Sat) at LSB LT2 during 1:30pm - 4:15pm.
• Reminder: Lectures on Oct 22 (Mon) and Oct 29 (Mon) will be replaced by special tutorials, and Lectures on Oct 24 (Wed) will be cancelled.
• The Midterm will be held on Oct 31 (Wed) during 2:30pm - 4:15pm in LSB C2. We will cover only group theory (i.e. up to Week 6 or p.27 in the Lecture Notes and Homework 5).
• Reminder: A makeup lecture will be held on Nov 3 (Sat) at LSB LT2 during 1:30pm - 4:15pm.
• The Final Exam will be held on Dec 7 (Fri) at 9:30am at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hall (Stage). Materials up to Week 12 and HW 11 will be covered.

General Information

Lecturer

• CHAN Kwok Wai
  • Office: LSB 212
  • Tel: 3943 7976
  • Email:

Teaching Assistant

• HAU Chun Yin
  • Office: LSB 232
  • Tel: 3943 5294
  • Email:

Time and Venue

• Lecture: Mon 2:30pm - 3:15pm at LSB LT4; Wed 2:30pm - 4:15pm at LSB C2
• Tutorial: Mon 3:30pm - 4:15pm at LSB LT4

Course Description

This course is intended as an introduction to modern abstract algebra and the algebraic way of thinking in advanced mathematics. The course focuses on basic algebraic concepts which arise in various areas of advanced mathematics, and emphasizes on the underlying algebraic structures which are common to various concrete mathematical examples.

Topics include:

Group Theory - examples of groups including permutation and dihedral groups, subgroups, the Theorem of Lagrange, group homomorphisms.

Ring Theory - examples of rings including the ring of integers and polynomial rings, integral domains, fields, ring homomorphisms, ideals and quotient rings.

Field Theory - examples of field extensions and finite fields.

References

• M. Artin, Algebra, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall.
• J. Fraleigh, A First Course in Abstract Algebra, 7th edition, Addison-Wesley (textbook for MATH3030).

Lecture Notes

• Lecture Notes (updated on Nov 21)

Assignments

• Homework 1 (due on Sep 13)
• Homework 2 (due on Sep 20)
• Homework 3 (due on Sep 27)
• Homework 4 (due on Oct 11)
• Homework 5 (due on Oct 18)
• Homework 6 (due on Oct 25)
• Homework 7 (due on Nov 1)
• Homework 8 (due on Nov 15)
• Homework 9 (due on Nov 22)
• Homework 10 (due on Nov 29)
• Homework 11 (due on Dec 3) Note: This is due on Monday instead of Thursday!

Solutions

• Suggested Solutions to Homework 1
• Suggested Solutions to Homework 2
• Suggested Solutions to Homework 3
• Suggested Solutions to Homework 4
• Suggested Solutions to Homework 5
• Suggested Solutions to Homework 6
• Suggested Solutions to Homework 7
• Suggested Solutions to Homework 8
• Suggested Solutions to Homework 9
• Suggested Solutions to Homework 10
• Suggested Solutions to Homework 11
• Suggested Solutions to Midterm

Assessment Scheme

Honesty in Academic Work

The Chinese University of Hong Kong places very high importance on honesty in academic work submitted by students, and adopts a policy of zero tolerance on cheating and plagiarism. Any related offence will lead to disciplinary action including termination of studies at the University. Although cases of cheating or plagiarism are rare at the University, everyone should make himself / herself familiar with the content of the following website:

and thereby help avoid any practice that would not be acceptable.