This book is a concrete introduction to abstract algebra and number theory. Starting from the basics, it develops the rich parallels between the integers and polynomials, covering topics such as Unique Factorization, arithmetic over quadratic number fields, the RSA encryption scheme, and finite fields. In addition to introducing students to the rigorous foundations of mathematical proofs, the authors cover several specialized topics, giving proofs of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, the transcendentality of $e$, and Quadratic Reciprocity Law. The book is aimed at incoming undergraduate students with a strong passion for mathematics.

Integer-valued polynomials on the ring of integers have been known for a long time and have been used in calculus. Polya and Ostrowski generalized this notion to rings of integers of number fields. More generally still, one may consider a domain $D$ and the polynomials (with coefficients in its quotient field) mapping $D$ into itself. They form a $D$-algebra - that is, a $D$-module with a ring structure. Appearing in a very natural fashion, this ring possesses quite a rich structure, and the very numerous questions it raises allow a thorough exploration of commutative algebra. Here is the first book devoted entirely to this topic. This book features: thorough reviews of many published works; self-contained text with complete proofs; and numerous exercises.

This book began life as a set of notes that I developed for a course at the University of Washington entitled Introduction to Modern Algebra for Tea- ers. Originally conceived as a text for future secondary-school mathematics teachers, it has developed into a book that could serve well as a text in an - dergraduatecourseinabstractalgebraoracoursedesignedasanintroduction to higher mathematics. This book di?ers from many undergraduate algebra texts in fundamental ways; the reasons lie in the book’s origin and the goals I set for the course. The course is a two-quarter sequence required of students intending to f- ?ll the requirements of the teacher preparation option for our B.A. degree in mathematics, or of the teacher preparation minor. It is required as well of those intending to matriculate in our university’s Master’s in Teaching p- gram for secondary mathematics teachers. This is the principal course they take involving abstraction and proof, and they come to it with perhaps as little background as a year of calculus and a quarter of linear algebra. The mathematical ability of the students varies widely, as does their level of ma- ematical interest.

Covers its topic in greater depth than the typical standard books on polynomial algebra

Contributions by leading experts in the field provide a snapshot of current progress in polynomials and number theory.

From Polynomials to Sums of Squares describes a journey through the foothills of algebra and number theory based around the central theme of factorization. The book begins by providing basic knowledge of rational polynomials, then gradually introduces other integral domains, and eventually arrives at sums of squares of integers. The text is complemented with illustrations that feature specific examples. Other than familiarity with complex numbers and some elementary number theory, very little mathematical prerequisites are needed. The accompanying disk enables readers to explore the subject further by removing the tedium of doing calculations by hand. Throughout the text there are practical activities involving the computer.

This volume presents a multi-dimensional collection of articles highlighting recent developments in commutative algebra. It also includes an extensive bibliography and lists a substantial number of open problems that point to future directions of research in the represented subfields. The contributions cover areas in commutative algebra that have flourished in the last few decades and are not yet well represented in book form. Highlighted topics and research methods include Noetherian and non- Noetherian ring theory as well as integer-valued polynomials and functions. Specific topics include: · Homological dimensions of Prüfer-like rings · Quasi complete rings · Total graphs of rings · Properties of prime ideals over various rings · Bases for integer-valued polynomials · Boolean subrings · The portable property of domains · Probabilistic topics in Intn(D) · Closure operations in Zariski-Riemann spaces of valuation domains · Stability of domains · Non-Noetherian grade · Homotopy in integer-valued polynomials · Localizations of global properties of rings · Topics in integral closure · Monoids and submonoids of domains The book includes twenty articles written by many of the most prominent researchers in the field. Most contributions are authored by attendees of the conference in commutative algebra held at the Graz University of Technology in December 2012. There is also a small collection of invited articles authored by those who did not attend the conference. Following the model of the Graz conference, the volume contains a number of comprehensive survey articles along with related research articles featuring recent results that have not yet been published elsewhere.