A Book of Abstract Algebra [Paperback]

Charles Pinter (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0072943505 | ISBN-13: 978-0072943504 | Publication Date: May 6, 2003 | Edition: 2

Long-considered one of the best-written titles on the subject, this text is aimed at the abstract or modern algebra course taken by junior and senior math majors and many secondary math education majors. A mid-level approach, this text features clear prose, an intuitive and well-motivated approach, and exercises organized around specific concepts.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math; 2 edition (May 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072943505
• ISBN-13: 978-0072943504
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #632,579 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best introduction to abstract algebra, October 26, 2004

By 

xpovos - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Book of Abstract Algebra (Hardcover)

Pinter's book compares very favorably to other elementary treatments, such as Gallian or Birkhoff+Maclane. The author has intentionally deviated from the established modern writing style in mathematics texts (theorem...proof...theorem...proof...), presenting instead an eminently readable work of mathematical prose which can be understood by any conscientious ninth-grader. Pinter's straightforward proofs of "Cayley's theorem" and the so-called "Fundamental Homomorphism Theorem" alone justify the purchase.

This relaxed and readable style notwithstanding, a suitable level of rigor has been maintained throughout the text---which is fairly complete in its coverage of elementary topics. From basic group theory and ring theory to field extensions and Galois theory, many minor, auxiliary results are left as exercises to aid the student's facility in proof technique, while the important major results are explained in the most natural way possible.

Most importantly, Pinter's book would serve as an excellent second reference for those students approaching the daunting subject with another text. Once you've read Pinter, you can read just about any other text on the subject and immediately grasp. For this reason, it IS the best "first course" text, as previously stated. I consider it a masterpiece in its genre.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars awesome, March 31, 2000

By 

skeezer "skeezer" (Salem, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Book of Abstract Algebra (Hardcover)

All the material presented in this book is presented beautifully. All concepts are perfectly clear. It is definitely the best "first course in algebra" book I have ever seen. The problems are also great too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, easy to follow, yet rigorous, September 2, 2007

By 

jbrand (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Book of Abstract Algebra (Paperback)

This is perhaps the best textbook I've ever seen on any subject. It is extraordinarily easy to follow, yet very rigorous; it is an excellent self-contained course on group theory starting from an introduction to the topic all the way to Galois theory. The book is broken down into 33 bite-sized chapters with plenty of very good exercises at the end of each one (the only way to really learn a topic like this). In each chapter these exercises range from simple play-with-the-definition types to those that illustrate much deeper concepts. It is one of the few math books that even an imperfect student could probably successfully learn from very well, entirely on his/her own.