This book is written as an introduction to higher algebra for students with a background of a year of calculus. The objective of the book is to give students enough experience in the algebraic theory of the integers and polynomials to appreciate the basic concepts of abstract algebra. The main theoretical thread is to develop algebraic properties of the ring of integers: unique factorization into primes, congruences and congruence classes, Fermat's theorem, the Chinese remainder theorem, and then again for the ring of polynomials. Concurrently with the theoretical development, the book presents a broad variety of applications, to cryptography, error-correcting codes, Latin squares, tournaments, techniques of integration and especially to elementary and computational number theory. Many of the recent advances in computational number theory are built on the mathematics which is presented in this book. Thus the book may be used as a first course in higher algebra, as originally intended, but may also serve as an introduction to modern computational number theory, or to applied algebra.
From the reviews:
"The user-friendly exposition is appropriate for the intended audience. Exercises often appear in the text at the point they are relevant, as well as at the end of the section or chapter. Hints for selected exercises are given at the end of the book. There is sufficient material for a two-semester course and various suggestions for one-semester courses are provided. Although the overall organization remains the same in the second edition¿Changes include the following: greater emphasis on finite groups, more explicit use of homomorphisms, increased use of the Chinese remainder theorem, coverage of cubic and quartic polynomial equations, and applications which use the discrete Fourier transform." MATHEMATICAL REVIEWS
From the reviews of the third edition:
“This book is an introduction to abstract algebra. ... it has enough material to give the instructor flexibility in the course. It is a good book for the serious student to have in his/her library. ... I would recommend this especially for self-study, as the book reads exactly as a good teacher talks to a class.” (Philosophy, Religion and Science Book Reviews, bookinspections.wordpress.com, October, 2013)
"This book can serve as both an introduction to number theory and abstract algebra, sacrifices have to be made with respect to its algebraic content. ... the book has been written with a high degree of rigor and accuracy and I definitely recommend it for consideration as the basis of an alternative route into abstract algebra and its applications." (The Mathematical Association of America, April, 2009)
"The target audience remains students requiring a substantial introduction to the elements of university-level algebra. ... the text proceeds throughout on a foundation built from the students’ familiarity with integers and polynomials over fields. Great care is taken to proceed to abstract concepts by way of familiar examples, and a great many exercises are provided throughout the text. ... A noteworthy feature of the book is the inclusion of extensive material on applications, to such topics as cryptography and factoring polynomials." (Kenneth A. Brown, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2009 i)
