Aims:

This is a second course on groups, rings and fields that delves deeper into those topics. We aim to attain a better understanding of groups both as abstract objects and through their actions on sets. We also want to understand how unique factorization can be generalized in rings that have a Euclidean algorithm.

Content:

• Group Theory: quaternionic group, matrix group, coset, Lagrange’s theorem, quotient group, isomorphism theorem, free group, group given by generators and relations, group action, G-set G/H, orbit, stabiliser, the orbit-stabiliser theorem, conjugacy class, classes in S_n, classification of groups up to order 8.
• Ring Theory: domain, isomorphism theorem, Chinese remainder theorem for Z/nZ and F[x]/(f), unit group, prime and irreducible element, factorization, Euclidean domain, characteristic of a field, unique factorization domain, ED is UFD, finite subgroup of units in fields.
• Module Theory: module, free module, internal and external direct sum, free abelian group, unimodular Smith normal form, the fundamental theorem of finitely generated abelian groups.
• List of covered algebraic definitions: direct product, coset, normal subgroup, quotient group, ideal, quotient ring, domain, irreducible element, prime element, euclidean domain, unique factorisation domain, direct product, free group, generators and relations, module, free module, direct sum, unimodular Smith normal form, action, orbit, stabiliser, fixed points.

Objectives: By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• have a working knowledge of the main constructions and concepts of theories of groups and rings
• recognise, classify and construct examples of groups and rings with specified properties by applying the algebraic concepts

Books:

• Ronald Solomon, Abstract Algebra, Brooks/Cole, 2003.
• Niels Lauritzen, Concrete Abstract Algebra, Cambridge University Press, 2003
• John B. Fraleigh, A first course in abstract algebra, Pearson, 2002
• Joseph A. Gallian, Contemporary Abstract Algebra, Cengage Learning, 2012