Problem Books in Mathematics - Böcker

This useful book, which grew out of the author's lectures at Berkeley, presents some 400 exercises of varying degrees of difficulty in classical ring theory, together with complete solutions, background information, historical commentary, bibliographic details, and indications of possible improvements or generalizations. The book should be especially helpful to graduate students as a model of the problem-solving process and an illustration of the applications of different theorems in ring theory. The author also discusses

In 1977 the Mathematics Department at the University of California, Berkeley, instituted a written examination as one of the first major requirements toward the Ph.D. degree in Mathematics. Its purpose was to determine whether first-year students in the Ph.D. program had successfully mastered basic mathematics in order to continue in the program with the likelihood of success. Since its inception, the exam has become a major hurdle to overcome in the pursuit of the degree. The purpose of this book is to publicize the material and aid in the preparation for the examination during the undergraduate years. The book is a compilation of over 1,250 problems which have appeared on the preliminary exams in Berkeley over the last twenty-five years. It is an invaluable source of problems and solutions for every mathematics student who plans to enter a Ph.D. program. Students who work through this book will develop problem-solving skills in areas such as real analysis, multivariable calculus, differential equations, metric spaces, complex analysis, algebra, and linear algebra. The problems are organized by subject and ordered in an increasing level of difficulty.Tags with the exact exam year provide the opportunity to rehearse complete examinations. The appendix includes instructions on accessing electronic versions of the exams as well as a syllabus and statistics of passing scores.This new edition has been updated with the most recent exams, including exams given during the Fall 2003 semester. There are numerous new problems and solutions which were not included in previous editions.

In 1977 the Mathematics Department at the University of California, Berkeley, instituted a written examination as one of the first major requirements toward the Ph. D. degree in Mathematics. Its purpose was to determine whether first-year students in the Ph. D. program had successfully mastered basic mathematics in order to continue in the program with the likelihood of success. Since its inception, the exam has become a major hurdle to overcome in the pursuit of the degree. The purpose of this book is to publicize the material and aid in the preparation for the examination during the undergraduate years. The book is a compilation of over 1,250 problems which have appeared on the preliminary exams in Berkeley over the last twenty-five years. It is an invaluable source of problems and solutions for every mathematics student who plans to enter a Ph. D. program. Students who work through this book will develop problem-solving skills in areas such as real analysis, multivariable calculus, differential equations, metric spaces, complex analysis, algebra, and linear algebra. The problems are organized by subject and ordered in an increasing level of difficulty.Tags with the exact exam year provide the opportunity to rehearse complete examinations. The appendix includes instructions on accessing electronic versions of the exams as well as a syllabus and statistics of passing scores. This new edition has been updated with the most recent exams, including exams given during the Fall 2003 semester. There are numerous new problems and solutions which were not included in previous editions.

Mathematics is kept alive by the appearance of new unsolved problems, problems posed from within mathematics itself, and also from the increasing number of disciplines where mathematics is applied. This book provides a steady supply of easily understood, if not easily solved, problems which can be considered in varying depths by mathematicians at all levels of mathematical maturity.For this new edition, the author has included new problems on symmetric and asymmetric primes, sums of higher powers, Diophantine m-tuples, and Conway's RATS and palindromes. The author has also included a useful new feature at the end of several of the sections: lists of references to OEIS, Neil Sloane's Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences.About the first Edition:"...many talented young mathematicians will write their first papers starting out from problems found in this book." András Sárközi, MathSciNet

Although the ?rst decades of the 20th century saw some strong debates on set theory and the foundation of mathematics, afterwards set theory has turned into a solid branch of mathematics, indeed, so solid, that it serves as the foundation of the whole building of mathematics. Later generations, honest to Hilbert’s dictum, “No one can chase us out of the paradise that Cantor has created for us” proved countless deep and interesting theorems and also applied the methods of set theory to various problems in algebra, topology, in?nitary combinatorics, and real analysis. The invention of forcing produced a powerful, technically sophisticated tool for solving unsolvable problems. Still, most results of the pre-Cohen era can be digested with just the knowledge of a commonsense introduction to the topic. And it is a worthy e?ort, here we refer not just to usefulness, but, ?rst and foremost, to mathematical beauty. In this volume we o?er a collection of various problems in set theory. Most of classical set theory is covered, classical in the sense that independence methods are not used, but classical also in the sense that most results come fromtheperiod,say,1920–1970.Manyproblemsarealsorelatedtoother?elds of mathematics such as algebra, combinatorics, topology, and real analysis. We do not concentrate on the axiomatic framework, although some - pects, such as the axiom of foundation or the role ˆ of the axiom of choice, are elaborated.

Over the years, a number of books have been written on the theory of functional equations. However, very little has been published which helps readers to solve functional equations in mathematics competitions and mathematical problem solving. This book fills that gap. The student who encounters a functional equation on a mathematics contest will need to investigate solutions to the equation by finding all solutions, or by showing that all solutions have a particular property. The emphasis here will be on the development of those tools which are most useful in assigning a family of solutions to each functional equation in explicit form.At the end of each chapter, readers will find a list of problems associated with the material in that chapter. The problems vary greatly, with the easiest problems being accessible to any high school student who has read the chapter carefully. The most difficult problems will be a reasonable challenge to advanced students studying for the International Mathematical Olympiad at the high school level or the William Lowell Putnam Competition for university undergraduates. The book ends with an appendix containing topics that provide a springboard for further investigation of the concepts of limits, infinite series and continuity.

Over the years, a number of books have been written on the theory of functional equations. However, very little has been published which helps readers to solve functional equations in mathematics competitions and mathematical problem solving. This book fills that gap. The student who encounters a functional equation on a mathematics contest will need to investigate solutions to the equation by finding all solutions, or by showing that all solutions have a particular property. The emphasis here will be on the development of those tools which are most useful in assigning a family of solutions to each functional equation in explicit form.At the end of each chapter, readers will find a list of problems associated with the material in that chapter. The problems vary greatly, with the easiest problems being accessible to any high school student who has read the chapter carefully. The most difficult problems will be a reasonable challenge to advanced students studying for the International Mathematical Olympiad at the high school level or the William Lowell Putnam Competition for university undergraduates. The book ends with an appendix containing topics that provide a springboard for further investigation of the concepts of limits, infinite series and continuity.

The book extends the high school curriculum and provides a backdrop for later study in calculus, modern algebra, numerical analysis, and complex variable theory. Exercises introduce many techniques and topics in the theory of equations, such as evolution and factorization of polynomials, solution of equations, interpolation, approximation, and congruences. The theory is not treated formally, but rather illustrated through examples. Over 300 problems drawn from journals, contests, and examinations test understanding, ingenuity, and skill. Each chapter ends with a list of hints; there are answers to many of the exercises and solutions to all of the problems. In addition, 69 "explorations" invite the reader to investigate research problems and related topics.

As a student I discovered in our library a thin booklet by Frederick Mosteller entitled50 Challenging Problems in Probability. Itreferredtoas- plementary “regular textbook” by William Feller, An Introduction to Pro- bilityTheoryanditsApplications.SoItookthisonealong,too,andstartedon the ?rst of Mosteller’s problems on the train riding home. From that evening, I caught on to probability. These two books were not primarily about abstract formalisms but rather about basic modeling ideas and about ways — often extremely elegant ones — to apply those notions to a surprising variety of empirical phenomena. Essentially, these books taught the reader the skill to “think probabilistically” and to apply simple probability models to real-world problems. The present book is in this tradition; it is based on the view that those cognitive skills are best acquired by solving challenging, nonstandard pro- bility problems. My own experience, both in learning and in teaching, is that challenging problems often help to develop, and to sharpen, our probabilistic intuition much better than plain-style deductions from abstract concepts.

Thiscollectionofproblemsisplannedasatextbookforuniversitycoursesinthe theoryofstochasticprocessesandrelatedspecialcourses. Theproblemsinthebook haveawidespectrumofthelevelofdif cultyandcanbeusefulforreaderswith variouslevelsofmasteringinthetheoryofstochasticprocesses. Togetherwithte- nicalandillustrativeproblemsintendedforbeginners,thebookcontainsanumber ofproblemsoftheoreticalnaturethatcanbeusefulforstudentsandundergraduate studentsthatpursueadvancedstudiesinthetheoryofstochasticprocessesandits- plications. Amongothers,theimportantaimofthebookistoprovideateachingstaff anef cienttoolforpreparingseminarstudies,tests,andexamsconcerninguniversity coursesinthetheoryofstochasticprocessesandrelatedtopics. Whilecomposingthe book,theauthorshavepartiallyusedthecollectionsofproblemsinprobabilityt- ory[16,65,75,83]. Also,someexercisesandproblemsfromthemonographsand textbooks[4,9,19,22,82]wereused. Atthesametime,alargepartofourproblem bookcontainsoriginalmaterial. Thebookisorganizedasfollows. Theproblemsarecollectedintochapters,each chapterbeingdevotedtoacertaintopic.Atthebeginningofeachchapter,theth- reticalgroundsforthecorrespondingtopicaregivenbrie ytogetherwiththelistof bibliography,whichthereadercanuseinordertostudythistopicinmoredetail. For themostoftheproblems,eitherhintsorcompletesolutions(oranswers)aregiven, andsomeoftheproblemsareprovidedwithbothhintsandsolutions(answers). H- ever,theauthorsdonotrecommendthatareaderusethehintssystematically,because solvingaproblemwithoutassistanceismuchmoreusefulthanusingaready-made idea. Somestatementsthathaveaparticulartheoreticalinterestareformulatedon theoreticalgrounds,andtheirproofsareformulatedasproblemsforthereader. Such problemsaresuppliedwitheithercompletesolutionsordetailedhints. Inordertoworkwiththeproblembookef ciently,areadershouldbeacquainted withprobabilitytheory,calculus,andmeasuretheorywithinthescopeofresp- tiveuniversity courses. Standard notions, suchas random variable, measurability, independence, Lebesgue measure and integral, and so on are used without ad- tionaldiscussion. Allthenewnotionsandstatementsrequiredforsolvingthepr- lemsaregiveneitherontheoreticalgroundsorintheformulationsoftheproblems vii viii Preface straightforwardly.However,sometimesanotionisusedinthetextbeforeitsformal de nition. Forinstance,theWienerandPoissonprocessesareprocesseswithin- pendentincrementsandthusareformallyintroducedinaTheoreticalgroundsfor Chapter5,buttheseprocessesareusedwidelyintheproblemsofChapters2to4. Theauthorsrecommendthatareaderwhocomestoanunknownnotionorobject usetheIndexinorderto ndthecorrespondingformalde nition. Thesamerec- mendationconcernssomestandardabbreviationsandsymbolslistedattheendofthe book. Someproblemsinthebookformcycles:solutionstooneofthemaregrounded onstatementsofothersoronauxiliaryconstructionsdescribedinsomepreceding solutions. Sometimes,onthecontrary,itisproposedtoprovethesamestatement withindifferentproblemsusingessentiallydifferenttechniques. Theauthorsrec- mendareaderpayspeci cattentiontothesefruitfulinternallinksbetweenvarious topicsofthetheoryofstochasticprocesses. Everypartofthebookwascomposedsubstantiallybyoneauthor. Chapters1-6, and16arecomposedbyA. Kulik,Chapters7,12-15,18,and19byYu. Mishura, Chapters 8-10 by A. Pilipenko, Chapter 17 by A. Kukush, and Chapter 20 by D. Gusak. Chapter11waspreparedjointlybyD. GusakandA. Pilipenko.Atthe sametime,everyauthorhasmadeacontributiontootherpartsofthebookbyprop- ingseparateproblemsorcyclesofproblems,improvingpreliminaryversionsoft- oreticalgrounds,andeditingthe naltext. The authors would like to express their deep gratitude to M. Portenko and A. Ivanovfortheircarefulreadingofapreliminaryversionofthebookandva- ablecommentsthatledtosigni cantimprovementofthetext. Theauthorsarealso gratefultoT. Yakovenko,G. Shevchenko,O. Soloveyko, Yu. Kartashov, Yu. K- menko,A. Malenko,andN. Ryabovafortheirassistanceintranslation,preparing lesandpictures,andcomposingthesubjectindexandreferences. Thetheoryofstochasticprocessesisanextendeddiscipline,andtheauthors- derstandthattheproblembookinitscurrentformmaycausecriticalremarksfrom readers,concerningeitherthestructureofthebookorthecontentofseparatech- ters. Whilepublishingtheproblembookinitscurrentform,theauthorsareopenfor remarks,comments,andpropositions,andexpressinadvancetheirgratitudetoall theircorrespondents. Kyiv DmytroGusak December2008 AlexanderKukush AlexeyKulik YuliyaMishura AndreyPilipenko Contents 1 De?nition of stochastic process. Cylinder?-algebra, ?nite-dimensional distributions, the Kolmogorov theorem...1Theoreticalgrounds ...1 Bibliography...3 Problems...3 Hints...7 AnswersandSolutions...9 2 Characteristics of a stochastic process. Mean and covariance functions. Characteristic functions...11 Theoreticalgrounds ...11 Bibliography...13 Problems...13 Hints...16 AnswersandSolutions...17 3 Trajectories. Modi?cations. Filtrations...21 Theoreticalgrounds ...21 Bibliography...24 Problems...24 Hints...29 AnswersandSolutions...31 4 Continuity. Differentiability. Integrability...33 Theoreticalgrounds ...33 Bibliography...34 Problems...34 Hints...38 AnswersandSolutions...40 ix x Contents 5 Stochastic processes with independent increments. Wiener and Poisson processes. Poisson point measures...

Even the simplest mathematical abstraction of the phenomena of reality­ the real line-can be regarded from different points of view by different mathematical disciplines. For example, the algebraic approach to the study of the real line involves describing its properties as a set to whose elements we can apply" operations," and obtaining an algebraic model of it on the basis of these properties, without regard for the topological properties. On the other hand, we can focus on the topology of the real line and construct a formal model of it by singling out its" continuity" as a basis for the model. Analysis regards the line, and the functions on it, in the unity of the whole system of their algebraic and topological properties, with the fundamental deductions about them obtained by using the interplay between the algebraic and topological structures. The same picture is observed at higher stages of abstraction. Algebra studies linear spaces, groups, rings, modules, and so on. Topology studies structures of a different kind on arbitrary sets, structures that give mathe­ matical meaning to the concepts of a limit, continuity, a neighborhood, and so on. Functional analysis takes up topological linear spaces, topological groups, normed rings, modules of representations of topological groups in topological linear spaces, and so on. Thus, the basic object of study in functional analysis consists of objects equipped with compatible algebraic and topological structures.

The book that follows is an experiment in the teaching of population theory and analysis. A sequence of problems where each is a self-contained puzzle, and the successful solution of each which puts the student in a position to tackle the next, is a means of securing the active participation of the learner and so the mastery of a technical subject. How far our questions are the exciting puzzles at which we aimed, and how far the sequence constitutes a rounded course in demography, must be left to the user to judge. One test of a good problem is whether a solution, that may take hours of cogitation, is immediately recognizable once it comes to mind. While algebraic manipulation is required throughout, we have tried to emphasize problems in which there is some substantive point-a conclusion regarding population that can be put into words. Our title, Demography Through Problems, reflects our intention of leading the reader who will actively commit him-or herself through a sequence that will not only teach definitions-in itself a trivial matter-but sharpen intuition on the way that populations behave.

Written as a supplement to Marcel Berger’s popular two-volume set, Geometry I and II (Universitext), this book offers a comprehensive range of exercises, problems, and full solutions. Each chapter corresponds directly to one in the relevant volume, from which it also provides a summary of key ideas. Where the original Geometry volumes tend toward challenging problems without hints, this book offers a wide range of material that begins at an accessible level, and includes suggestions for nearly every problem. Bountiful in illustrations and complete in its coverage of topics from affine and projective spaces, to spheres and conics, Problems in Geometry is a valuable addition to studies in geometry at many levels.

One of the most effective ways to stimulate students to enjoy intellectual efforts is the scientific competition. In 1894 the Hungarian Mathematical and Physical Society introduced a mathematical competition for high school students. The success of high school competitions led the Mathematical Society to found a college level contest, named after Miklós Schweitzer. The problems of the Schweitzer Contests are proposed and selected by the most prominent Hungarian mathematicians. This book collects the problems posed in the contests between 1962 and 1991 which range from algebra, combinatorics, theory of functions, geometry, measure theory, number theory, operator theory, probability theory, topology, to set theory. The second part contains the solutions. The Schweitzer competition is one of the most unique in the world. The experience shows that this competition helps to identify research talents. This collection of problems and solutions in several fields in mathematics can serve as a guide for many undergraduates and young mathematicians. The large variety of research level problems might be of interest for more mature mathematicians and historians of mathematics as well.

Problem-solving competitions for mathematically talented sec­ ondary school students have burgeoned in recent years. The number of countries taking part in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) has increased dramatically. In the United States, potential IMO team members are identified through the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), and most other participating countries use a similar selection procedure. Thus the number of such competitions has grown, and this growth has been accompanied by increased public interest in the accomplishments of mathematically talented young people. There is a significant gap between what most high school math­ ematics programs teach and what is expected of an IMO participant. This book is part of an effort to bridge that gap. It is written for students who have shown talent in mathematics but lack the back­ ground and experience necessary to solve olympiad-level problems. We try to provide some of that background and experience by point­ out useful theorems and techniques and by providing a suitable ing collection of examples and exercises. This book covers only a fraction of the topics normally rep­ resented in competitions such as the USAMO and IMO. Another volume would be necessary to cover geometry, and there are other v VI Preface special topics that need to be studied as part of preparation for olympiad-level competitions. At the end of the book we provide a list of resources for further study.

This book of problems has been designed to accompany an undergraduate course in probability. It will also be useful for students with interest in probability who wish to study on their own. The only prerequisite is basic algebra and calculus. This includes some elementary experience in set theory, sequences and series, functions of one variable, and their derivatives. Familiarity with integrals would be a bonus. A brief survey of terminology and notation in set theory and calculus is provided. Each chapter is divided into three parts: Problems, Hints, and Solutions. To make the book reasonably self-contained, all problem sections include expository material. Definitions and statements of important results are interlaced with relevant problems. The latter have been selected to motivate abstract definitions by concrete examples and to lead in manageable steps toward general results, as well as to provide exercises based on the issues and techniques introduced in each chapter. The hint sections are an important part of the book, designed to guide the reader in an informal manner. This makes Probability Through Prob­ lems particularly useful for self-study and can also be of help in tutorials. Those who seek mathematical precision will find it in the worked solutions provided. However, students are strongly advised to consult the hints prior to looking at the solutions, and, first of all, to try to solve each problem on their own.

Pell's equation is part of a central area of algebraic number theory that treats quadratic forms and the structure of the rings of integers in algebraic number fields. It is an ideal topic to lead college students, as well as some talented and motivated high school students, to a better appreciation of the power of mathematical technique. Even at the specific level of quadratic diophantine equations, there are unsolved problems, and the higher degree analogues of Pell's equation, particularly beyond the third, do not appear to have been well studied. In this focused exercise book, the topic is motivated and developed through sections of exercises which will allow the readers to recreate known theory and provide a focus for their algebraic practice. There are several explorations that encourage the reader to embark on their own research. A high school background in mathematics is all that is needed to get into this book, and teachers and others interested in mathematics who do not have (or have forgotten) a background in advanced mathematics may find that it is a suitable vehicle for keeping up an independent interest in the subject.

This is a practical anthology of some of the best elementary problems in different branches of mathematics. They are selected for their aesthetic appeal as well as their instructional value, and are organized to highlight the most common problem-solving techniques encountered in undergraduate mathematics. Readers learn important principles and broad strategies for coping with the experience of solving problems, while tackling specific cases on their own. The material is classroom tested and has been found particularly helpful for students preparing for the Putnam exam. For easy reference, the problems are arranged by subject.

The popular literature on mathematical logic is rather extensive and written for the most varied categories of readers. College students or adults who read it in their free time may find here a vast number of thought-provoking logical problems. The reader who wishes to enrich his mathematical background in the hope that this will help him in his everyday life can discover detailed descriptions of practical (and quite often -- not so practical!) applications of logic. The large number of popular books on logic has given rise to the hope that by applying mathematical logic, students will finally learn how to distinguish between necessary and sufficient conditions and other points of logic in the college course in mathematics. But the habit of teachers of mathematical analysis, for example, to stick to problems dealing with sequences without limit, uniformly continuous functions, etc. has, unfortunately, led to the writing of textbooks that present prescriptions for the mechanical construction of definitions of negative concepts which seem to obviate the need for any thinking on the reader's part. We are most certainly not able to enumerate everything the reader may draw out of existing books on mathematical logic, however.

This book is designed for use in a one semester problem-oriented course in undergraduate set theory. The combination of level and format is somewhat unusual and deserves an explanation. Normally, problem courses are offered to graduate students or selected undergraduates. I have found, however, that the experience is equally valuable to ordinary mathematics majors. I use a recent modification of R. L. Moore's famous method developed in recent years by D. W. Cohen [1]. Briefly, in this new approach, projects are assigned to groups of students each week. With all the necessary assistance from the instructor, the groups complete their projects, carefully write a short paper for their classmates, and then, in the single weekly class meeting, lecture on their results. While the em­ phasis is on the student, the instructor is available at every stage to assure success in the research, to explain and critique mathematical prose, and to coach the groups in clear mathematical presentation. The subject matter of set theory is peculiarly appropriate to this style of course. For much of the book the objects of study are familiar and while the theorems are significant and often deep, it is the methods and ideas that are most important. The necessity of rea­ soning about numbers and sets forces students to come to grips with the nature of proof, logic, and mathematics. In their research they experience the same dilemmas and uncertainties that faced the pio­ neers.

The author, the founder of the Greek Statistical Institute, has based this book on the two volumes of his Greek edition which has been used by over ten thousand students during the past fifteen years. It can serve as a companion text for an introductory or intermediate level probability course. Those will benefit most who have a good grasp of calculus, yet, many others, with less formal mathematical background can also benefit from the large variety of solved problems ranging from classical combinatorial problems to limit theorems and the law of iterated logarithms. It contains 329 problems with solutions as well as an addendum of over 160 exercises and certain complements of theory and problems.

This text is intended to provide graduate and advanced undergraduate students as well as the general mathematical public with a modern treatment of various theorems and examples in mathematics. A carefully arranged mixture of theorems, examples, exercises, hints and discussions sharpens and highlights many of the fundamental aspects of the subject matter, and constitutes a rounding out and elaboration of the standard parts of algebra, analysis, geometry, logic, probability, set theory, and topology. Essentially self-contained, the book presents this material with a treatment sensitive to the progress mathematics has made in the last 25 years.

Mathematicians and non-mathematicians alike have long been fascinated by geometrical problems, particularly those that are intuitive in the sense of being easy to state, perhaps with the aid of a simple diagram. Each section in the book describes a problem or a group of related problems. Usually the problems are capable of generalization of variation in many directions. The book can be appreciated at many levels and is intended for everyone from amateurs to research mathematicians.

In the pages that follow there are: A. A revised and enlarged version of Problems in analysis (PIA) . (All typographical, stylistic, and mathematical errors in PIA and known to the writer have been corrected.) B. A new section COMPLEX ANALYSIS containing problems distributed among many of the principal topics in the theory of functions of a complex variable. C. A total of 878 problems and their solutions. D. An enlarged Index/Glossary and an enlarged Symbol List. Notational and terminological conventions are to be found for the most part under Conventions at the beginnings of the chapters. Spe­ cial items not included in Conventions are completely explained in the Index/Glossary. The audience to which the current book is addressed differs little from the audience for PIA. The background of the reader is assumed to include a knowledge of the basic principles and theorems in real and complex analysis as those subjects are currently viewed. The aim of the problems is to sharpen and deepenthe understanding of the mechanisms that underlie modern analysis. I thank Springer-Verlag for its interest in and support of this project. State University of New York at Buffalo B. R. G. v Contents The symbol alb under Pages below indicates that the Problems for the section begin on page a and the corresponding Solutions begin on page b. Thus 3/139 on the line for Set Algebra indicates that the Problems in Set Algebra begin on page 3 and the corresponding Solutions begin on page 139.

PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES is a unique collection of competition problems from over twenty major national and international mathematical competitions for high school students. The discussion of problem solving strategies is extensive. It is written for trainers and participants of contests of all levels up to the highest level: IMO, Tournament of the Towns, and the noncalculus parts of the Putnam Competition. It will appeal to high school teachers conducting a mathematics club who need a range of simple to complex problems and to those instructors wishing to pose a "problem of the week", "problem of the month", and "research problem of the year" to their students, thus bringing a creative atmosphere into their classrooms with continuous discussions of mathematical problems. This volume is a must-have for instructors wishing to enrich their teaching with some interesting non -routine problems and for individuals who are just interested in solving difficult and challenging problems. Each chapter starts with typical examples illustrating the central concepts and is followed by a number of carefully selected problems and their solutions.Most of the solutions are complete, but some merely point to the road leading to the final solution. Very few problems have no solutions. Readers interested in increasing the effectiveness of the book can do so by working on the examples in addition to the problems thereby increasing the number of problems to over 1300. In addition to being a valuable resource of mathematical problems and solution strategies, this volume is the most complete training book on the market.

This volume offers a compendium of exercises of varying degree of difficulty in the theory of modules and rings. All exercises are solved in full detail. Each section begins with an introduction giving the general background and the theoretical basis for the problems that follow.