This volume contains expository lectures by Melvin Hochster from the CBMS Regional Conference in Mathematics held at the University of Nebraska, June 1974. The lectures deal mainly with recent developments and still open questions in the homological theory of modules over commutative (usually, Noetherian) rings. A good deal of attention is given to the role ``big'' Cohen-Macaulay modules play in clearing up some of the open questions. A modest knowledge of commutative rings and familarity with (the long exact sequences for) Tor and Ext should suffice as a background for the reader.

This book provides an introduction to the basics and recent developments of commutative algebra. A glance at the contents of the first five chapters shows that the topics covered are ones that usually are included in any commutative algebra text. However, the contents of this book differ significantly from most commutative algebra texts: namely, its treatment of the Dedekind–Mertens formula, the (small) finitistic dimension of a ring, Gorenstein rings, valuation overrings and the valuative dimension, and Nagata rings. Going further, Chapter 6 presents w-modules over commutative rings as they can be most commonly used by torsion theory and multiplicative ideal theory. Chapter 7 deals with multiplicative ideal theory over integral domains. Chapter 8 collects various results of the pullbacks, especially Milnor squares and D+M constructions, which are probably the most important example-generating machines. In Chapter 9, coherent rings with finite weak global dimensions are probed, and the local ring of weak global dimension two is elaborated on by combining homological tricks and methods of star operation theory. Chapter 10 is devoted to the Grothendieck group of a commutative ring. In particular, the Bass–Quillen problem is discussed. Finally, Chapter 11 aims to introduce relative homological algebra, especially where the related concepts of integral domains which appear in classical ideal theory are defined and investigated by using the class of Gorenstein projective modules. Each section of the book is followed by a selection of exercises of varying degrees of difficulty. This book will appeal to a wide readership from graduate students to academic researchers who are interested in studying commutative algebra.

This book is an introduction to the theory of associative rings and their modules, designed primarily for graduate students. The standard topics on the structure of rings are covered, with a particular emphasis on the concept of the complete ring of quotients. A survey of the fundamental concepts of algebras in the first chapter helps to make the treatment self-contained. The topics covered include selected results on Boolean and other commutative rings, the classical structure theory of associative rings, injective modules, and rings of quotients. The final chapter provides an introduction to homological algebra. Besides three appendices on further results, there is a six-page section of historical comments. Table of Contents: Fundamental Concepts of Algebra: 1.1 Rings and related algebraic systems; 1.2 Subrings, homomorphisms, ideals; 1.3 Modules, direct products, and direct sums; 1.4 Classical isomorphism theorems. Selected Topics on Commutative Rings: 2.1 Prime ideals in commutative rings; 2.2 Prime ideals in special commutative rings; 2.3 The complete ring of quotients of a commutative ring; 2.4 Rings of quotients of commutative semiprime rings; 2.5 Prime ideal spaces.Classical Theory of Associative Rings: 3.1 Primitive rings; 3.2 Radicals; 3.3 Completely reducible modules; 3.4 Completely reducible rings; 3.5 Artinian and Noetherian rings; 3.6 On lifting idempotents; 3.7 Local and semiperfect rings. Injectivity and Related Concepts: 4.1 Projective modules; 4.2 Injective modules; 4.3 The complete ring of quotients; 4.4 Rings of endomorphisms of injective modules; 4.5 Regular rings of quotients; 4.6 Classical rings of quotients; 4.7 The Faith-Utumi theorem. Introduction to Homological Algebra: 5.1 Tensor products of modules; 5.2 Hom and $\otimes$ as functors; 5.3 Exact sequences; 5.4 Flat modules; 5.5 Torsion and extension products. Appendixes; Comments; Bibliography; Index. Review from Zentralblatt Math: Due to their clarity and intelligible presentation, these lectures on rings and modules are a particularly successful introduction to the surrounding circle of ideas. Review from American Mathematical Monthly: An introduction to associative rings and modules which requires of the reader only the mathematical maturity which one would attain in a first-year graduate algebra [course]...in order to make the contents of the book as accessible as possible, the author develops all the fundamentals he will need.In addition to covering the basic topics...the author covers some topics not so readily available to the nonspecialist...the chapters are written to be as independent as possible...[which will be appreciated by] students making their first acquaintance with the subject...one of the most successful features of the book is that it can be read by graduate students with little or no help from a specialist. (CHEL/283.H)

About the book In honor of Edgar Enochs and his venerable contributions to a broad range of topics in Algebra, top researchers from around the world gathered at Auburn University to report on their latest work and exchange ideas on some of today's foremost research topics. This carefully edited volume presents the refereed papers of the par

Featuring presentations from the Fourth International Conference on Commutative Algebra held in Fez, Morocco, this reference presents trends in the growing area of commutative algebra. With contributions from nearly 50 internationally renowned researchers, the book emphasizes innovative applications and connections to algebraic number theory, geome