Classroom Resource Materials: Visual Group Theory

Group theory is the branch of mathematics that studies symmetry, found in crystals, art, architecture, music and many other contexts. But its beauty is lost on students when it is taught in a technical style that is difficult to understand. Visual Group Theory assumes only a high school mathematics background and covers a typical undergraduate course in group theory from a thoroughly visual perspective. The more than 300 illustrations in Visual Group Theory bring groups, subgroups, homomorphisms, products, and quotients into clear view. Every topic and theorem is accompanied with a visual demonstration of its meaning and import, from the basics of groups and subgroups through advanced structural concepts such as semidirect products and Sylow theory. This text approaches the learning of group theory visually. It allows the student to see groups, experiment with groups and understand their significance. It brings groups, subgroups, homomorphisms, products, and quotients into clear view. Every topic and theorem is accompanied with a visual demonstration of its meaning and import, from the basics of groups and subgroups through advanced structural concepts such as semidirect products and Sylow theory. Opening chapters anchor the reader's intuitions with puzzles and symmetrical objects, defining groups as collections of actions. This approach gives early access to Cayley diagrams, the visualization technique central to the book, due to its unique ability to make group structure visually evident. This book is ideal as a supplement for a first course in group theory or alternatively as recreational reading. This text approaches the learning of group theory visually. It allows the student to see groups, experiment with groups and understand their significance. It brings groups, subgroups, homomorphisms, products, and quotients into clear view. Every topic and theorem is accompanied with a visual demonstration of its meaning and import, from the basics of groups and subgroups through advanced structural concepts such as semidirect products and Sylow theory. Opening chapters anchor the reader's intuitions with puzzles and symmetrical objects, defining groups as collections of actions. This approach gives early access to Cayley diagrams, the visualization technique central to the book, due to its unique ability to make group structure visually evident. -- from publisher description This text approaches the learning of group theory visually. It allows the student to see groups, experiment with groups and understand their significance. It brings groups, subgroups, homomorphisms, products, and quotients into clear view. Every topic and theorem is accompanied with a visual demonstration of its meaning and import, from the basics of groups and subgroups through advanced structural concepts such as semidirect products and Sylow theory. Opening chapters anchor the reader's intuitions with puzzles and symmetrical objects, defining groups as collections of actions. This approach gives early access to Cayley diagrams, the visualization technique central to the book, due to its unique ability to make group structure visually evident.-- Provided by publisher Group theory is the branch of mathematics that studies symmetry, found in crystals, art, architecture, music and many other contexts. But its beauty is lost on students when it is taught in a technical style that is difficult to understand. __Visual Group Theory__ assumes only a high school mathematics background and covers a typical undergraduate course in group theory from a thoroughly visual perspective. What is a group? What do groups look like? Why study groups? Algebra at last Five families Subgroups Products and quotients The power of homomorphisms Sylow theory Galois theory Answers to selected exercises. Nathan C. Carter. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 285-286) And Index.