Modern Algebra: An Introduction [Paperback]

J.R. Durbin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471628999 | ISBN-13: 978-0471628996 | Publication Date: July 8, 1987 | Edition: 2nd

This book presents an introduction to modern (abstract) algebra covering the basic ideas of groups, rings, and fields. The first part of the book treats ideas that are important but neither abstract nor complicated, and provides practice in handling mathematical statements - their meaning, quantification, negation, and proof. This edition features a new section to give more substance to the introduction to Galois theory, updated lists of references and discussions of topics such as Fermat's Last Theorem and the finite simple groups.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 362 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd; 2nd edition (July 8, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471628999
• ISBN-13: 978-0471628996
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars There are better books out there., April 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Modern Algebra: An Introduction, 4th Edition (Hardcover)

First off, I want to say that this book isn't the worst I've read. It's well organized and written fairly clear. The main problem I have with it is the cost!

I originally thought this book was an OK introduction until I read Abstract Algebra by Beachy and Blair and Abstract Algebra by Herstein. I recommend the first for those who need to work on proof writing, and the second for those who have a solid foundation in abstract mathematics and aren't afraid of a little rigor. Both of them are cheaper, and do a much better job exposing the material.

The only reason I'm keeping the text is because chapters XIV, XV and XVI seem like they have interesting applications (crystallography, cryptography, etc.)

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive and concise introduction to Algebra., January 22, 2001

By 

Laurence Horan (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Algebra: An Introduction, 4th Edition (Hardcover)

As a first year student studying maths at Trinity College Dublin I have found this book very helpful. Our lecturer in Algebra sticks closely to the format of the book and almost uses it as his lecture notes. The book is very student friendly and gives a lot of good examples along the way. As with any good maths book no point is trivialised and the wording is all important. Modern Algebra can be a challenging subject but it is also immensely rewarding when things begin to fall together.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too vague with many errors in later chapters/sections, April 7, 2003

By 

Sweetcheeks McMuffin (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Algebra: An Introduction, 4th Edition (Hardcover)

This book covers many of foundations of abstract algebra including groups, rings, homomorphisms, isomorphisms, Sylow's theorem, Galois theory, etc. While most of the sections are fairly well-worded, most of the text is vague and the more challenging problems are given without too much training on them in the section's text.
Also, I found the algebraic coding chapter very difficult to read and understand. Durbin does a lackluster job at clearly explaining the concept of coding theory. There are also many errors in the answer key which definitely lead to confusion especially for newcomers.
On a positive note, I found the section on frieze and crystallographic groups an icebreaker in the seemingly endless blurb of unclear information.