Math_216

This is the homepage for MT216, Introduction to Abstract Math.
Here you will find all information and handouts for both the 10:00 and 11:00 sections.

Course info.

The textbook "Abstract Algebra: Theory and Applications" by Thomas Judson is available for free download as a PDF file. If you want to save paper, there is also a reformatted version with smaller margins.

The standard way to typeset mathematical documents is using LaTeX. LaTeX requires some time and practice to get used to, but in the long run it's well worth the trouble. If your computer runs OSX then you should start by downloading and installing the MacTeX package. One you have finished the installation open the application TeXShop. From inside TeXShop open one of the .tex files on this page (e.g. the LaTeX source for the first handout) and click the "typeset" button in the upper left corner of the TeXShop window. If everything is working properly, a PDF version of the LaTeX'ed file should appear. Now you're off and running. If you use Windows then you'll want to download the proTeXt package and follow its installation instructions.

Some useful documentation includes The Not-So-Short Introduction to LaTeX, the Wikibooks LaTeX guide, and the Comprehensive LaTeX Symbol List.

Mac users: there is a bug fix to the MacTeX package which you should download and install. The file you want is called "Fix-TeXLive-2008.pkg.zip". The bug, which just appeared on my computer this week, will cause Preview (the OS X default PDF viewer) to improperly display certain fonts used by LaTeX. If you have not experienced strange looking fonts, just download and install the bug fix and don't worry. If you have already experienced this bug, download and install the bug fix, then restart your computer while holding down the SHIFT key. This will cause your computer to reboot in "safe mode", and will clear out the offending caches from the computer's memory (which may take a long time; be patient). Once the computer has rebooted in safe mode, reboot again normally (i.e. without holding down the SHIFT key) and now all problems should be fixed.

The September 9th handout (examples of proofs) and its LaTeX source.
The September 28th handout (the infinitude of primes) and its LaTeX source.
The October 7th handout (roots of unity) and its LaTeX source.
The October 26th handout (equivalence relations and partitions) and its LaTeX source.
The October 28th handout (the Chinese Remainder Theorem) and its LaTeX source.
The November 2nd handout (bonus exercises, with solutions) and its LaTeX source.
The November 11th handout (Fermat's Little Theorem) and its LaTeX source.

The first exam solutions and LaTeX source.

The second exam solutions and LaTeX source.