There is at present a growing body of opinion that in the decades ahead discrete mathematics (that is, "noncontinuous mathematics"), and therefore parts of applicable modern algebra, will be of increasing importance. Cer tainly, one reason for this opinion is the rapid development of computer science, and the use of discrete mathematics as one of its major tools. The purpose of this book is to convey to graduate students or to final-year undergraduate students the fact that the abstract algebra encountered pre viously in a first algebra course can be used in many areas of applied mathematics. It is often the case that students who have studied mathematics go into postgraduate work without any knowledge of the applicability of the structures they have studied in an algebra course. In recent years there have emerged courses and texts on discrete mathe matics and applied algebra. The present text is meant to add to what is available, by focusing on three subject areas. The contents of this book can be described as dealing with the following major themes: Applications of Boolean algebras (Chapters 1 and 2). Applications of finite fields (Chapters 3 to 5). Applications of semigroups (Chapters 6 and 7).
