Course description
The second semester of the Honors Algebra sequence. We cover field theory and Galois theory, with applications to ruler and compass constructions and solvability of polynomial equations by extracting roots. After that, there will be a few classes on some algebraic aspects of cryptography and secure communication. This will include the Miller Rabin ramdomized primality test and the finite field elliptic curve public key encryption/decryption scheme. We will spend the rest of the semester as time permits studying studying polynomial rings for algebraic geometry (basis theorem, nullstellensatz) and/or group representation theory for finite groups.
Prerequisites:
Honors Algebra I or the permission of the instructor.
Assignments, exams, grading:
The final grade will be based on weekly homework assignments, a reality check quiz, a midterm exam, and a final exam. See the Details and schedule page for details.
Communication:
Please use the Forum page of the NYU Classes
site for this course for all content related communication,
including questions about assignments, lectures, or notes.
Feel free to contact the instructor or TA directly about
other issues such as appointments, missed classes,
late assignments, grading issues, etc.
The instructor and TA will check the message board frequently.
Look there for important course announcements, in particular