Learning modern algebra
Subtitle: from early attempts to prove Fermat's last theorem
By: Al Cuoco and Joseph J. Rotman
Contributors: Rotman, Joseph J., 1934-
Series: MAA textbooks; MAA textbooks
Publisher: Mathematical Association of America
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Washington, DC
Language: eng
Number of pages: 459
ISBN-13: 9781939512017
Subjects: Textbooks; Fermat's last theorem; Abstract Algebra; Algebra
Description: "This book is designed for prospective and practicing high school mathematics teachers but it can serve as a text for standard abstract algebra courses as well. The presentation is organized historically: the Babylonians introduced Pythagorean triples to teach the Phythagorean theorem; these were classified by Diophantus, and eventually this led Fermat to conjecture his Last Theorem. The text shows how much of modern algebra arose in attempts to prove this; it also shows how other important themes in algebra arouse from questions related to teaching"--P. [4] of cover.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 449-450) and index.
Table of contents: title: Early number theory; title: Induction; title: Renaissance; title: Modular arithmetic; title: Abstract algebra; title: Arithmetic of polynomials; title: Quotients, fields, and classical problems; title: Cyclotomic integers; title: Epilog; title: Appendices.