X

Algebra 1: Foundations

By Prof. Jaikrishnan J   |   IIT Palakkad
Learners enrolled: 71
ABOUT THE COURSE:

This is part 1 of a series of courses on Algebra at the undergraduate level. The first course is the foundational course. We will spend half of the course on fundamentals which are often skirted in college courses. The aim of the first six weeks is to have a thorough understanding of the basic objects that form the backbone of modern algebra. Along the way, we will also introduce the notion of proof in an elementary setting. The latter six weeks is an introduction to linear algebra culminating in an elementary proof of the existence of the Jordan form given by Terence Tao. Throughout the course we will sprinkle interesting tidbits about history.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Bachelor’s students in the sciences and engineering

PREREQUISITES: High school mathematics

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Microsoft, Google, etc.
Summary
Course Status : Upcoming
Course Type : Core
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Mathematics
  • Algebra
Credit Points : 3
Level : Undergraduate
Start Date : 21 Jul 2025
End Date : 10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends : 28 Jul 2025
Exam Registration Ends : 15 Aug 2025
Exam Date : 25 Oct 2025 IST
NCrF Level   : 4.5 — 8.0

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


Page Visits



Course layout

Week 1:  Sets and Logic

Week 2: Equivalence relations, partitions and the quotient construction on sets, functions.

Week 3: Countability, Isomorphisms of sets and the canonical decomposition of maps between sets.

Week 4: Binary operations, the definition, examples and basic properties of groups, rings and integral domains

Week 5: The natural numbers.

Week 6: Fields, the rational, real and complex numbers, polynomials and rational functions

Week 7: System of linear equations, Gaussian elimination, Matrices

Week 8: Vector spaces, examples of vector spaces, subspaces, spans, linear independence, bases and dimension.

Week 9: Linear maps, the rank—nullity theorem and applications.

Week 10: The connection between linear maps and matrices. Change of basis. Dual spaces, quotient spaces.

Week 11: The determinant as a multilinear map. Determinants and volumes, linear operators, eigenvectors and the characteristic polynomial

Week 12: Triangular and diagonal forms, the Jordan form

Books and references

  • Artin, Michael. Algebra: Pearson New International Edition. United Kingdom, Pearson Education, 2013.
  • Axler, Sheldon. Linear Algebra Done Right. Switzerland, Springer International Publishing, 2023.
  • Mostow, George, Sampson, Joseph, Meyer, Jean-Pierre. Fundamental Structures of Algebra. Japan, McGraw-Hill, 1963.

Instructor bio

Prof. Jaikrishnan J

IIT Palakkad
Prof. Jaikrishnan J is currently working as an Assistant Professor at IIT Palakkad. Prior to this, I was a DST-INSPIRE faculty at IIT Madras. I specialize in Complex Analysis. I have taught a variety of courses at both the undergraduate as well as postgraduate level. I have also taught at several workshops for both students as well as faculty.

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: October 25, 2025 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

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

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 Palakkad .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


MHRD logo Swayam logo

DOWNLOAD APP

Goto google play store

FOLLOW US