Math 436: Undergraduate Algebraic Geometry

Spring 2018

Welcome to the webpage for Math 436. This is an undergraduate algebraic geometry course.
The course will include topics on Hilbert Nullstellensatz, affine and projective varieties, smooth varieties, curves, Bezout's Theorem, and other topics as time permits.

Time/Location Tu-Th 10-11:30AM, Cupples II, L001

Prerequisites: permission of the instructor.

Textbook: There are two recommended book, both are available to download for free:

1) Ideals, Varieties, and Algorithms, an introduction to computational algebraic geometry and commutative algebra, by David Cox, John Little, Donal OShea. The book is available to download freely at WUSTL's library.
2) Undergraduate algebraic geometry by Miles Reid, available here.

Other useful books are
3) Algebraic curves by Fulton
4) Complex Algebraic Curves, by Frances Kirwan

Office hour: Tuesday 2:30-3:30, Wednesday 3-4, or By appointment. Location: Cupples I, Room 108B.

Grader: The course assistant for this course is Jeffery Norton (janorton@wustl.edu).

Exams: There will be one in class midterm exam during the semester. There will also be a final exam. The midterm is tentatively scheduled for Thursday March 8. If you are unable to take the midterm exam for legitimate reasons, you will not be given a make up exam.

Grading Information: The midterm and the homework will each count for 30 percent of your grade. The final exam will count for 40 percent of your grade.

Homework: There will be weekly homework. You are encouraged to discuss the problems but the write-up must be your own.
I expect there will be 10 problem sets. The lowest homework grade will be dropped and the remaining 9 will be counted towards your final course grade.

1. Homework #1 , Due January 25 in class. Solutions
2. Homework #2 , Due February 1 in class. Solutions
3. Homework #3 , Due February 8 in class. Solutions
4. Homework #4 , Due February 15 in class. Solutions
5. Homework #5 , Due February 27 in class. Solutions
6. Homework #6 , Due March 6 in class.
7. Homework #7 , Due March 29 in class.
8. Homework #8 , Due April 12 in class.
9. Homework #9 , Due April 26 in class.
Solutions to selected problems from Homework 8 and 9