Texts For Qualifying Exams

Forum for the GRE subject test in mathematics.
Post Reply
Peregrine
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Jun 18, 2017 8:00 pm

Texts For Qualifying Exams

Post by Peregrine » Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:21 pm

Hi! I plan on taking the algebra and analysis exams relatively early into graduate school. To people who have taken your qualifying exams (or anybody with a good sense of resources), what are some texts you would recommend in algebra and analysis to sharpen my skills before the exam? Thanks!

Rise
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2016 6:48 pm

Re: Texts For Qualifying Exams

Post by Rise » Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:47 pm

The Quals at my home institution follow closely with

Dummit and Foote, Abstract Algebra
Gerald Follad, Real Analysis

JL_MATH
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 12:24 am

Re: Texts For Qualifying Exams

Post by JL_MATH » Thu Apr 26, 2018 1:01 pm

It probably would be better to consult with your grad department and focus on the material they use.

djysyed
Posts: 359
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 9:59 pm

Re: Texts For Qualifying Exams

Post by djysyed » Thu Apr 26, 2018 5:55 pm

Here's what I found from UNC's Graduate Handbook:

There are five qualifying exams:
 Algebra: Math 676 and 677
 Analysis: Math 653 and 656
 Geometry-Topology: Math 680 and 681
 Methods of Applied Mathematics: Math 668 and 669
 Scientific Computation: Math 661 and 662

Looking through previous courses, it's safe to say the Algebra Qual follows Dummit and Foote, the Analysis Qual follows Ahlfors and Baby Rudin, and the rest follow their own texts.

Most schools use Dummit and Foote for their Algebra Qual, the top schools use Lang, and for some reason, my school uses Aluffi, Serre's Rep Thy, and A-M. There was a question on derived functors and another on integral closures on my Algebra Qual.

MathCat
Posts: 187
Joined: Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:17 am

Re: Texts For Qualifying Exams

Post by MathCat » Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:48 pm

Find out what your department uses for the corresponding courses. You can probably find this by looking for course webpages from this year. At my department, the qualifying exams offered in the fall (the ones you can take upon entry if you are just starting) are written by the same professor who taught the course the previous year. Of course, this may be different at your department.



Post Reply