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Abstract Study Group Course Guide August 2017

Goal
To introduce the idea of Abstract Algebra to student with emphasis placed on the developing the critical
thinking ability of its participants with respect to proofs in Mathematics.

Methodology
Study Group Sessions will be conducted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 am < 1:00 pm there
about. [9:00 - 10:45 facilitation, 10:45 - 11:20 break, 11:30 - 1:00 facilitation].

Personal study on each of the various topics is required, selected videos will also be sent for viewing prior to
each session. Please cater at least 1 hour to view these videos.

A two hour exam will be held on the penultimate session. This will test the material covered.

General Information:
Three sessions will cover the topic of Groups and one session on Rings.

Session Topic(s) Comments

1 Study Group Overview / Introduction / Welcome / Ice Rajesh

Breaker / Testimonials
Equivalence relations, binary operations. The definition of a
group. Examples of a group. Subgroups. Cyclic Groups

2 Symmetric Group and Permutations. Jagdesh

Subgroups (Please Revise). Cosets and Lagranges Theorem.

3 Normal subgroups and Quotient Groups Tariq

Homomorphisms of groups. The kernel of a homomorphism.

4 Consolidation of Groups. Introduction to Rings.

Eg of Rings, Ideas, Analogies with Groups. Consolidation.

5 Exam (2hrs)

6 Correction of Exam / Closing Exercises / Lime?

Reference Material

Joseph J. Rotman. A First Course in Abstract Algebra. Pearson, Third edition, 2005.

I.N. Herstein. Topics in Algebra. John Wiley & Sons, Second Edition, 1976.