First Course In Abstract Algebra

International Thomson Publishing, 1966. - 349 pages.While planning and writing this book, we have been guided by the belief that a first course in abstract algebra should satisfy several objectives. First, the course should provide the student with factual material that will be useful to him as a future user of mathematics. Second, it should begin to train the student in abstract mathematical thinking and techniques. Third, by pursuing development beyond the level of definitions and the most elementary theorems, the course should expose the student to some relatively deep algebraic theorems that can be obtained by fairly elementary means. Finally, the student should be made aware that algebra, as well as mathematics generally, is a rapidly developing area of knowledge. We hope that this text provides a suitable vehicle for the achievement of these goals.