Abstract Algebra and Solution by Radicals

by John E. Maxfield, Margaret W. Maxfield

This advanced undergraduate-level text was recommended for teacher education by The American Mathematical Monthly and praised as a "most readable book." An ideal introduction to groups and Galois theory, it provides students with an appreciation of abstraction and arbitrary postulational systems, ideas that are central to automation.
The authors take the algebraic equation and the discovery of the insolubility of the quintic as their theme. Starting with treatments of groups, rings, fields, and polynomials, they advance to Galois theory, radicals and roots of unity, and solution by radicals. Thirteen appendixes supplement this volume, along with numerous examples, illustrations, commentaries, and exercises. Students who have completed a first-year college course in algebra or calculus will find it an accessible and well-written treatment.

Genres: Mathematics, Algebra

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Steven Harmon]

Kind of loses steam in the 3rd act

[Amar Pai]

You can get this cheap... ah Dover, where would we be without your cheap old math paperbacks.

It doesn't cover ideals. The whole book builds towards Galois theory as a climax.

Good as a supplement to a more modern algebra textbook...