Algebra

First semester Mandatory

Credit Points: 10 Prerequisites: none
Hours per class 1
Hours per week 5
Hours per semester 80

Objectives: This course introduces the basic topics of mathematics and in particular of algebra; those are
the foundations of the courses imparted in the bachelor degree. This course offers half of what is considered
elemental.

Course Topics:
1. Sets an functions: 16 hrs
Notion of set. Subsets. Operations and properties (union, intersection, complement, difference). Power
set.
Relations between sets. Functions. Function composition. Injective, sujective and bijective functions.
Invertible functions. Cardinality of a set. Finite and infinite sets. Functions between finite sets. Principle
of induction.
2. Matrices and determinats: 16 hrs
Matrices: Definition and operations. The transpose of a matrix. Special matrices. Elemental operations.
Equivalent matrices. Row echelon form. Range of a matrix. Elemental matrices. Invertible Matrices.
Calculation of the inverse of a matrix.
The determinant of a square matrix: Definition and properties. Determinants calculation. Cramers
rule. Calculation of the inverse of a matrix.
3. Systems of linear equations: 16 hrs
Solutions of a system. Equivalent systems. Homogeneous systems (the solutions space of a homogeneous
system). Nonhomogeneous systems. Solutions existence criteria. Resolution of systems.

4. Complex numbers: 16 hrs

The field of complex numbers: operations and properties. Complex conjugate (properties). Modulus of
a complex number (properties). Second order equations. Polar representation. De Moivres theorem.
Complex numbers roots.

5. Polynomials and equations: 16 hrs

Polynomials with coefficients on a field (Q, R, C). Operations. Division algorithms. Roots of a polyno-
mial. Residue theorem and factor theorem. Polynomials factorization. Synthetic division. Approximate
calculation of roots.
Basic bibliography:

Albert, A.A., 1967, Algebra superior, UTEHA, Mexico.

Cardenas, H. Lluis E., 1990, Algebra superior, Trillas, Mexico.

Birkhoff, G., MacLane, S., 1977, A survey of modern algebra, 4th edition, MacMillan, New York,
USA.
Beaumont, R. A., Pierce R. S., The algebraic foundations of Mathematics, AddisonWesley

Complementary bibliography:

1
Dickson, L.A., 1939, A first course on the theory of equations, New York, USA.
Halmos, P., 1973, Teora intuitive de los conjuntos, CECSA, Mexico.
Landau, E. G. H., 1977, Foundations of analysis: The arithmetic of whole, rational, irrational
and complex numbers a supplement to textbooks on the differential and integral calculus,
Chelsa, New York.
Uspensky, J. V., 2000, Teora de ecuaciones, Limusa, Mexico.
Johnsonbaugh, R., 1990, Discrette mathematics, Collier Mcmillan, London.