Math 506, Fall 2016

Model Theory


Our course will have weekly homework, assigned each Wednesday, and due the following Wednesday. Below I will post course materials and links to aditional resources. We are roughly following Marker's model theory, with some detours. The beginning of the course follows the text more closely than the end.


Office hours: Monday 3:00-4:00, Tuesday 1:00-2:00, Friday 2:00-3:00.


Homework: 

Homework 1 - due on August 31.

Homework 2 - due on September 7.

Comments on HW2:


Problem 6.6: K has a unique extension of each degree. You should prove this by reducing the statement to a first order one, and then noting that it holds for F_p. To see the statement, think about what the elements of a field extension generated by a given element look like. They are rational functions of the generator (there is a unique generator by the primitive element theorem). Now, using the degree bound, note that the rational expressions look like quotients of bounded degree polynomials. Quantify over the coefficients to show that the statement is first order.


You can use part 6 to prove handle parts 3 through 5. It looks like part 4 can be solved with a little cleverness, using the multiplicativity of the Legendre symbol, and looking for square roots.

Problem 6.8: Even if you don't care too much about the particular problem, I suggest looking at: Tao's blog.


Homework 3 - due on September 14.

Homework 4 - due on September 23.

Homework 5 - due on October 7.

Homework 6 - due on October 21.

Homework 7 - due on November 4.

Homework 8 - due on November 18.

Homework 9 - due Finals week.



Lecture notes