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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2011/2012
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Mathematics : Mathematics

Undergraduate Course: Algebraic Geometry (MATH11120)

Course Outline
School School of Mathematics College College of Science and Engineering
Course type Standard Availability Available to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken) SCQF Level 11 (Year 4 Undergraduate) Credits 10
Home subject area Mathematics Other subject area None
Course website None Taught in Gaelic? No
Course description Algebraic geometry studies geometric objects defined algebraically.
It is a classical subject with a modern face that studies geometric
spaces defined by polynomial equations in several variables.

Besides providing crucial techniques and examples to many other
areas of geometry and topology, recent decades have seen remarkable
applications to representation theory, physics and to the construction of algebraic codes.

The goal of the course is to give a basic flavour of the subject as
motivation for further study through the introduction of minimal
background material supplemented by a vast collection of examples.
This course will introduce the basic objects
in algebraic geometry: affine and projective varieties, and the maps
between them. The focus will be on explicit concrete examples.

We plan to cover Sections 1-5 and 7 from Reid&©s book (see Reading List below), which include :
&· basics of commutative algebra,
&· Hilbert Basis Theorem and the Nullstellensatz,
&· affine and projective varieties,
&· morphisms and rational maps between varieties,
&· conics, plane curves, quadric surfaces,
&· blow ups, birational equivalence,
&· Segre and Veronese embeddings,
&· cubic surfaces.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: ( Algebra (MATH10021) AND Numbers & Rings (MATH10023))
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites None
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? No
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
King's BuildingsLectureJCMB, theatre C1-11 10:00 - 10:50
King's BuildingsLectureJCMB, theatre B1-11 10:00 - 10:50
First Class Week 18, Monday, 10:00 - 10:50, Zone: King's Buildings. JCMB, theatre C
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
A first course in algebraic geometry is a basic requirement for study in geometry, algebraic number theory or algebra at the MSc or PhD level. Students who successfully complete this module will :

&· have knowledge of the basic affine and projective geometries,
&· be familiar with explicit examples including plane curves, quadrics, cubic surfaces, Segre and Veronese embeddings,
&· have increased their knowledge of finitely generated commutative rings and their fields of fractions,
&· have learned how to formulate and prove basic statements about algebraic varieties in precise abstract algebraic language
Assessment Information
Coursework 15%; examination 85%
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus This syllabus is for guidance purposes only :

Weeks 1-2. Projective plane, conics, plane curves.
Weeks 3-4. Cubic curves (elliptic curves). Bezout&©s theorem (without proof) and its applications (Cayley$úBacharach theorem).
Weeks 5-6. Affine varieties and their rings of functions. Hilbert Basis Theorem and the Nullstellensatz. Projective varieties.
Weeks 7-8. Quadric surfaces, blow ups, rational and birational maps.
Weeks 9-10. Basics of cubic surfaces. 27 lines on a smooth cubic
surface.
Week 11. Revision.
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list The main book for this course will be the book by Miles Reid,
'Undergraduate algebraic geometry'.

Miles Reid, Undergraduate algebraic geometry, CUP.
Frances Kirwan, Complex algebraic curves, CUP.
Miles Reid, Undergraduate commutative algebra, CUP.
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
Keywords AG
Contacts
Course organiser Prof Jim Wright
Tel: (0131 6)50 8570
Email: J.R.Wright@ed.ac.uk
Course secretary Mrs Alison Fairgrieve
Tel: (0131 6)50 6427
Email: Alison.Fairgrieve@ed.ac.uk
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copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 1 September 2011 6:27 am