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Math 370 Algebra

Semester: Fall 2006

Lecture
Prof: Murray Gerstenhaber
mgersten AT math.upenn.edu
Time: Tue Thu 1:30-3 pm
Loct: DRL 4C4
Office: DRL 4N40
Phone:(215) 898-8460
Office
hours:
TBA
or by appointment
Prof. Gerstenhaber's course web page.
Text book: Michael Artin, Algebra, Prentice Hall: 1991.
Lab
T.A.: Asher Auel
auela AT math.upenn.edu
Time: Lab 101 Tue 6:30-8:30 pm
Lab 102 Thu 6:30-8:30 pm
Loct: DRL 2C4
Office: DRL 3E2
Phone: (215) 898-8175
Office
hours:
Tue 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Wed 11:30 - 12:30 pm
or by appointment

Homework: The currently assigned homework and occasionally posted solutions to problems can be found at the homework page.


Policies
(or otherwise the small print)

Homework: I will be grading your homework and tests for this course. For general policies regarding homework, tests, grade break-down, homework lateness, illnesses, etc., please see Prof. Gerstenhaber. Homework will be assigned during Tuesday's lecture and will be due the following Tuesday, by 4 pm, in my mailbox in the mathematics department main office. Special arrangements can be made ahead of time if you're physically unable to hand in your homework (like emailing it to me if you're trapped on a desert island with internet access.)

Generally, a homework problem in this course (and in general any mathematics problem) will consist of two parts: the creative part and the write-up.

  • The creative part: This is when you "solve" the problem. You stare at it, poke at it, and work on it until you understand what's being asked, and then try different ideas until you find something that works. This part is fun to do with your friends, and during this part, if you're having trouble, even in understanding what the problem's asking, you should come ask Prof. Gerstenhaber or myself for hints, either in person during office hours, or by email. This part should all be done on "scratch paper."
     
  • The write-up: Now that everything about the problem is clear in your mind, you go off by yourself and write up a coherent, succinct, well-written, and grammatically correct mathematical solution on clean sheets of paper. Consider this your final draft, just as in any other course. This part you should definitely NOT do with your friends.

    This will most likely be your first "real" math course, in the sense that some problems will require an argument and not just a long calculation. In order to write an argument, you'll have to use words to convey your ideas and how they connect together. Yes, it may seem strange that in a math course you'll have to use the English language. As in any other course where you use the English language, you'll need to use it correctly, i.e. you must use complete sentences, correct grammar and spelling, etc. It's true that mixing correct English with mathematical symbols is somewhat of an art, but the author of your text, for example, provides a good example of how to do this successfully. Also, if your handwriting is illegible, then consider typing up your papers, as you would for your English class.

Please note that a fully correct solution requires both parts: having "figured out" the problem, but not having written it up (or having written up something incoherent that does not express what you know) or conversely, having written up many pages of beautiful prose that still fail to solve the problem, don't count for very much. You will be graded accordingly.

Links:   Mathematics Department links Math Help Resources


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