Undergraduate Algebra : A First Course

Designed for second-year mathematics students, this book offers a modern, highly systematic approach to thoroughly familiarize students with the theory of rings, fields, vector spaces, and particularly with the techniques of matrix manipulation. In keeping the needs of the learner paramount, the author provides motivation at each difficult point and integrates a wide range of exercises into each chapter. The method is both strong in its presentation of linear algebra and relevant to computer science. Written for mathematics students in their first year, this virtually self-contained course aims to make students feel at home with the theory of rings, fields and vector spaces, and especially with the techniques of matrix manipulation.