Galois Theory

By Prof. Dilip P. Patil | IIT Bombay

Learners enrolled: 612

Galois Theory is showpiece of a mathematical unification which brings together several differentbranches of the subject and creating a powerful machine for the study problems of considerablehistorical and mathematical importance. This course is an attempt to present the theory in such alight, and in a manner suitable for undergraduate and graduate students as well as researchers.This course will begin at the beginning. The quadratic formula for solving polynomials of degree2 has been known for centuries and is still an important part of mathematics education. Thecorresponding formulas for solving polynomials of degrees 3 and 4 are less familiar. Theseexpressions are more complicated than their quadratic counterpart, but the fact that they exist comesas no surprise. It is therefore altogether unexpected that no such formulas are available for solvingpolynomials of degree ≥ 5. A complete answer to this intriguing problem is provided by Galoistheory. In fact Galois theory was created precisely to address this and related questions aboutpolynomials. This feature might not be apparent from a survey of current textbooks on universitylevel algebra.This course develops Galois theory from historical perspective and I have taken opportunity to weavehistorical comments into lectures where appropriate. It provides a platform for the developmentof classical as well as modern core curriculum of Galois theory. Classical results by Abel, Gauss,Kronecker, Legrange, Ruffini and Galois are presented and motivation leading to a modern treatmentof Galois theory. The celebrated criterion due to Galois for the solvability of polynomials by radicals.The power of Galois theory as both a theoretical and computational tool is illustrated by a study ofthe solvability of polynomials of prime degree.The participant is expected to have a basic knowledge of linear algebra, but other that the course islargely self-contained. Most of what is needed from fields and elementary theory polynomials ispresented in the early lectures and much of the necessary group theory is also presented on the way.Classical notions, statements and their proofs are provided in modern set-up. Numerous examplesare given to illustrate abstract notions. These examples are sort of an airport beacon, shining aclear light at our destination as we navigate a course through the mathematical skies to get there.Formally we cover the following topics :Galois extensions and Fundamental theorem of Galois Theory.Finite Fields, Cyclic Groups, Roots of Unity, Cyclotomic Fields.Splitting fields, Algebraic closureNormal and Separable extensionsSolvability of equations. Inverse Galois Problem

INTENDED AUDIENCE : BS / BSc / BE / ME / MSc / PhD PREREQUISITES : Linear Algebra; Algebra – First Course INDUSTRY SUPPORT : R & D Departments ofIBM / Microsoft Research LabsSAP /TCS / Wipro / Infosys

Summary

Course Status :	Completed
Course Type :	Core
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Mathematics
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	26 Jul 2021
End Date :	15 Oct 2021
Enrollment Ends :	09 Aug 2021
Exam Date :	24 Oct 2021 IST

Note: This exam date is subjected to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1 : Prime Factorisation in Polynomial Rings, Gauss’s Theorem

Week 2 : Algebraic Extensions

Week 3 : Group Actions

Week 4 : Galois Extensions

Week 5 : Finite Fields, Cyclic Groups, Roots of Unity, Cyclotomic Fields

Week 6 : Splitting Fields, Algebraic Closure

Week 7 : Normal and Separable Extensions

Week 8 : Norms and Trace

Week 9 : Fundamental Theorem on Symmetric

Week 10 : Proof of the Fundamental Theorem Polynomial, of Algebra

Week 11 : Orbits of the action of Galois group

Week 12 : Inverse Galois Problem

Books and references

Artin, E. : Galois Theory, University of Notre Dame Press, 2 1944.[2] Artin, M. : Algebra, Prentice-Hall, 1994.[4] Jacobson, N. : Lectures in Abstract Algebra, Vols. I, II & III, D. Van Nostrand Co. Inc.,Princeton, New Jersey, 1966.[5] Jordan, C. : Traité des substitutions et des équations algébraiques, Gautjier-Villars, Paris,1870.[5] B. M. Kiernan, B. M. : The development of Galois theory from Lagrange to Artin, Arch.Hist. Exact Sci. 8 (1971 / 72) 40–54.[6] Lang, S. : Algebra, Graduate Texts In Mathematics, Vol. 211, Springer-Verlag, 3 2002.[6] Steinitz, E. : Algebraische Theorie der Körper, 2nd ed., Chelsea, 1950.[6] van der Waerden, B. L. : Die Algebra seit Galois, Jahresber Deutsch. Math. Verein. 68(1966), 155–165.[7] Weber, H. : Lehrbuch der Algebra, Band I, II, III, Braunschweug 2 1898, 2 1899, 2 1908.

Instructor bio

Prof. Dilip P. Patil

IIT Bombay

Dilip P. Patil received B. Sc. and M. Sc. in Mathematics from the University of Pune in 1976 and 1978, respectively. From 1979 till 1992 he studied Mathematics at School of Mathematics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay and received Ph. D. through University of Bombay in 1989. Currently he is a Professor of Mathematics at the Departments of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. At present he is a Visiting Professor at the Department of Mathematics, IIT Bombay. He has been a Visiting Professor at Ruhr-Universitt Bochum, Universitt Leipzig, Germany and several universities in Europe and Canada. His research interests are mainly in Commutative Algebra and Algebraic Geometry.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: 24 October 2021 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.

Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Bombay. It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team