THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2013/2014 -
- ARCHIVE as at 1 September 2013 for reference only
THIS PAGE IS OUT OF DATE

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Mathematics : Mathematics

Undergraduate Course: Algebraic Geometry (MATH11120)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Mathematics CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Year 4 Undergraduate) Credits10
Home subject areaMathematics Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionAlgebraic 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-requisitesNone
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?No
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) Learn enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Web Timetable Web Timetable
Course Start Date 13/01/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 69 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 95 %, Coursework 5 %, Practical Exam 0 %
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
See 'Breakdown of Assessment Methods' and 'Additional Notes', above.
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-Bacharach 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
KeywordsAG
Contacts
Course organiserDr Susan Sierra
Tel: (0131 6)50 5070
Email: S.Sierra@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Alison Fairgrieve
Tel: (0131 6)50 5045
Email: Alison.Fairgrieve@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information
 
© Copyright 2013 The University of Edinburgh - 10 October 2013 4:53 am