A Course in Algebra (Graduate Studies in Mathematics, Vol. 56) (Graduate Studies in Mathematics, V. 56)

This is a comprehensive textbook on modern algebra written by an internationally renowned specialist. It covers material traditionally found in advanced undergraduate and basic graduate courses and presents it in a lucid style. The author includes almost no technically difficult proofs, and reflecting his point of view on mathematics, he tries wherever possible to replace calculations and difficult deductions with conceptual proofs and to associate geometric images to algebraic objects. The effort spent on the part of students in absorbing these ideas will pay off when they turn to solving problems outside of this textbook. Another important feature is the presentation of most topics on several levels, allowing students to move smoothly from initial acquaintance with the subject to thorough study and a deeper understanding. Basic topics are included, such as algebraic structures, linear algebra, polynomials, and groups, as well as more advanced topics, such as affine and projective spaces, tensor algebra, Galois theory, Lie groups, and associative algebras and their representations. Some applications of linear algebra and group theory to physics are discussed. The book is written with extreme care and contains over 200 exercises and 70 figures. It is ideal as a textbook and also suitable for independent study for advanced undergraduates and graduate students Great book! The author's teaching experinece shows in every chapter. --Efim Zelmanov, University of California, San Diego Vinberg has written an algebra book that is excellent, both as a classroom text or for self-study. It is plain that years of teaching abstract algebra have enabled him to say the right thing at the right time. --Irving Kaplansky, MSRI This is a comprehensive text on modern algebra written for advanced undergraduate and basic graduate algebra classes. The book is based on courses taught by the author at the Mechanics and Mathematics Department of Moscow State University and at the Mathematical College of the Independent University of Moscow. The unique feature of the book is that it contains almost no technically difficult proofs. Following his point of view on mathematics, the author tried, whenever possible, to replace calculations and difficult deductions with conceptual proofs and to associate geometric images to algebraic objects. Another important feature is that the book presents most of the topics on several levels, allowing the student to move smoothly from initial acquaintance to thorough study and deeper understanding of the subject. Presented are basic topics in algebra such as algebraic structures, linear algebra, polynomials, groups, as well as more advanced topics like affine and projective spaces, tensor algebra, Galois theory, Lie groups, associative algebras and their representations. Some applications of linear algebra and group theory to physics are discussed. Written with extreme care and supplied with more than 200 exercises and 70 figures, the book is also an excellent text for independent study Chapter 1. Algebraic Structures Chapter 2. Elements Of Linear Algebra Chapter 3. Elements Of Polynomial Algebra Chapter 4. Elements Of Group Theory Chapter 5. Vector Spaces Chapter 6. Linear Operators Chapter 7. Affine And Projective Spaces Chapter 8. Tensor Algebra Chapter 9. Commutative Algebra Chapter 10. Groups Chapter 11. Linear Representations And Associative Algebras Chapter 12. Lie Groups Answers To Selected Exercises E.b. Vinberg. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 501-502) And Index.