Learning Modern Algebra

Al Cuoco is Distinguished Scholar and Director of the Center for Mathematics Education at Education Development Center, Inc., (EDC). He is lead author for the CME Project, a four-year NSF-funded high school curriculum, published by Pearson. He also co-directs Focus on Mathematics, a mathematics-science partnership that has established a mathematical community of mathematicians, teachers, and mathematics educators. Joseph Rotman has been on the faculty of the mathematics department of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign since 1959, and has been Professor Emeritus since 2004. Professor Rotman was an editor of Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society (1970, 1971) and managing editor (1972, 1973). Aside from writing research articles, mostly on algebra, he has written textbooks on group theory, homological algebra, algebraic topology, Galois theory, and abstract algebra.

This book covers abstract algebra from a historical perspective by using mathematics from attempts to prove Fermat's last theorem, as the title indicates. The target audience is high school mathematics teachers. However, typical undergraduate students will also derive great benefit by studying this text. The book is permeated with fascinating mathematical nuggets that are clearly explained." - D. P. Turner, CHOICE"This book is destined for college students in the U.S. who intend to teach mathematics in high school. The reviewer finds it even more apt as a text for algebra courses. Special features in the book are side notes given and printed prominently at the margins of the pages, like: How to think about it, Historical notes, Etymology of notions and words. … The reviewer considers the book a refreshing read among the vast amount of books dealing with similar topics." - Robert W. van der Waall, Zentrallblatt MATH"Although this book is designed for college students who want to teach in high school," its mathematical richness fits it admirably as a text for a first abstract algebra course or a handbook for assiduous students working on their own. While definitions, examples, theorems and their proofs are organized formally, the book is enhanced by substantial historical notes, advice on "how to think about it," marginal comments, connections and etymology that are designed to "balance experience and formality." The book is tightly organized with the goal of elucidating developments leading to the solution of the Fermat conjecture and the theory of solvability by radicals." - E. J. Barbeau, Mathematical Reviews"The primary intended audience of the book is future high school teachers. The authors take great pains to relate the material covered here to subjects that are taught in high school mathematics classes. … In writing this book, the authors have obviously kept the needs of the student reader firmly in mind at all times. The writing style is not just clear; iit is often conversational and humorous. … There are lots of exercises covering a wide range of difficulty, some with hints (but none with complete solutions) and there is a pretty good 39-entry bibliography. … What might be a very interesting use for this book would be as a text for a senior seminar or “topics” course for students who already have some prior exposure to abstract algebra. And, of course, whatever may be the applicability of this book as a text for undergraduate course, it seems clear to me that it belongs in any good undergraduate library." - Mark Hunacek, MAA Reviews

• PrefaceNotation1. Early Number Theory2. Induction3. Renaissance4. Modular Arithmetic5. Abstract Algebra6. Arithmetic of Polynomials7. Quotients, Fields, and Classical Problems8. Cyclotomic Integers9. EpilogAppendicesReferencesIndexAbout the Authors