Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics – serie

Now available in Open Access, this best-selling textbook for a second course in linear algebra is aimed at undergraduate math majors and graduate students. The text focuses on the central goal of linear algebra: understanding the structure of linear operators on finite-dimensional vector spaces.

Beginning in Algebraic Geometry achieves a remarkable balance, offering a rigorous and detailed development of algebraic geometry that is nevertheless intended to be readable by students with only a first course in abstract algebra and linear algebra as prerequisites.

Intended as a rigorous first course, the book introduces and develops the various axioms slowly, and then, in a departure from other texts, continually illustrates the major definitions and axioms with two or three models, enabling the reader to picture the idea more clearly.

From the reviews of the second edition:"This book covers many interesting topics not usually covered in a present day undergraduate course, as well as certain basic topics such as the development of the calculus and the solution of polynomial equations.

Acutely aware of the need for rigor, the student is much better prepared to understand what constitutes a proper mathematical proof and how to write one.Fifteen years of classroom experience with the first edition of Understanding Analysis have solidified and refined the central narrative of the second edition.

Introduction to Partial Differential Equations

This undergraduate text is designed for a single-semester introductory course in discrete mathematics. It is aimed at students of mathematics and computer science, as well as problem-solving enthusiasts or anyone with some familiarity with proofs seeking a concise introduction to the subject. The primary goal is to acquaint readers with key structures and ideas in combinatorial and discrete mathematics that will support further study in mathematics and its applications.Requiring minimal prerequisites, the book seeks to build appreciation while offering a clear foundation for developing combinatorial reasoning. Special attention is given to the basics of enumeration and generating functions. Background concepts are presented accessibly, and examples appear early and frequently. When suitable, multiple proofs are provided for the same result, offering insight into mathematical thinking and the interconnectedness of ideas. Each chapter concludes with a selection of exercises spanning a wide range of difficulty, and a collection of hints and solutions is included at the end of the book.

The theory of elliptic curves involves a pleasing blend of algebra, geometry, analysis, and number theory. This volume stresses this interplay as it develops the basic theory, thereby providing an opportunity for advanced undergraduates to appreciate the unity of modern mathematics. At the same time, every effort has been made to use only methods and results commonly included in the undergraduate curriculum. This accessibility, the informal writing style, and a wealth of exercises make Rational Points on Elliptic Curves an ideal introduction for students at all levels who are interested in learning about Diophantine equations and arithmetic geometry.Most concretely, an elliptic curve is the set of zeroes of a cubic polynomial in two variables. If the polynomial has rational coefficients, then one can ask for a description of those zeroes whose coordinates are either integers or rational numbers. It is this number theoretic question that is the main subject of Rational Points on Elliptic Curves. Topics covered include the geometry and group structure of elliptic curves, the Nagell–Lutz theorem describing points of finite order, the Mordell–Weil theorem on the finite generation of the group of rational points, the Thue–Siegel theorem on the finiteness of the set of integer points, theorems on counting points with coordinates in finite fields, Lenstra's elliptic curve factorization algorithm, and a discussion of complex multiplication and the Galois representations associated to torsion points. Additional topics new to the second edition include an introduction to elliptic curve cryptography and a brief discussion of the stunning proof of Fermat's Last Theorem by Wiles et al. via the use of elliptic curves.

Payoffs include: concise picture proofs of the Monotone and Dominated Convergence Theorems, a one-line/one-picture proof of Fubini's theorem from Cavalieri’s Principle, and, in many cases, the ability to see an integral result from measure theory.

This text gives a rigorous treatment of the foundations of calculus. In contrast to more traditional approaches, infinite sequences and series are placed at the forefront. The approach taken has not only the merit of simplicity, but students are well placed to understand and appreciate more sophisticated concepts in advanced mathematics. The authors mitigate potential difficulties in mastering the material by motivating definitions, results and proofs. Simple examples are provided to illustrate new material and exercises are included at the end of most sections. Noteworthy topics include: an extensive discussion of convergence tests for infinite series, Wallis’s formula and Stirling’s formula, proofs of the irrationality of π and e and a treatment of Newton’s method as a special instance of finding fixed points of iterated functions.

This introduction to modern algebra differs from texts in this area in fundamental ways. The author's primary goal is to have the reader learn to work with mathematics through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The choice of content is important, but he regards it as a vehicle, not as an end in itself. It is the raw material through which the readers develop the ability to understand and communicate mathematics. One non-standard feature of the book is that the author proves only a few of the theorems. Most proofs are left as exercises, and these exercises can form the core of a course based on this book.

Cryptography is a key technology in electronic key systems. It is used to keep data secret, digitally sign documents, access control, and so forth. Users therefore should not only know how its techniques work, but they must also be able to estimate their efficiency and security. Based on courses taught by the author, this book explains the basic methods of modern cryptography. It is written for readers with only basic mathematical knowledge who are interested in modern cryptographic algorithms and their mathematical foundation. Several exercises are included following each chapter. This revised and extended edition includes new material on the AES encryption algorithm, the SHA-1 Hash algorithm, on secret sharing, as well as updates in the chapters on factoring and discrete logarithms.

Goals and Emphasis of the Book Mathematicians have begun to find productive ways to incorporate computing power into the mathematics curriculum. There is no attempt here to use computing to avoid doing differential equations and linear algebra. The goal is to make some first ex­ plorations in the subject accessible to students who have had one year of calculus. Some of the sciences are now using the symbol-manipulative power of Mathemat­ ica to make more of their subject accessible. This book is one way of doing so for differential equations and linear algebra. I believe that if a student's first exposure to a subject is pleasant and exciting, then that student will seek out ways to continue the study of the subject. The theory of differential equations and of linear algebra permeates the discussion. Every topic is supported by a statement of the theory. But the primary thrust here is obtaining solutions and information about solutions, rather than proving theorems. There are other courses where proving theorems is central. The goals of this text are to establish a solid understanding of the notion of solution, and an appreciation for the confidence that the theory gives during a search for solutions. Later the student can have the same confidence while personally developing the theory.

This unique textbook focuses on the structure of fields and is intended for a second course in abstract algebra. Besides providing proofs of the transcendence of pi and e, the book includes material on differential Galois groups and a proof of Hilbert's irreducibility theorem. The reader will hear about equations, both polynomial and differential, and about the algebraic structure of their solutions. In explaining these concepts, the author also provides comments on their historical development and leads the reader along many interesting paths.In addition, there are theorems from analysis: as stated before, the transcendence of the numbers pi and e, the fact that the complex numbers form an algebraically closed field, and also Puiseux's theorem that shows how one can parametrize the roots of polynomial equations, the coefficients of which are allowed to vary. There are exercises at the end of each chapter, varying in degree from easy to difficult. To make the book more lively, the author has incorporated pictures from the history of mathematics, including scans of mathematical stamps and pictures of mathematicians.Antoine Chambert-Loir taught this book when he was Professor at Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France.He is now Professor at Universite de Rennes 1.

The companion title, Linear Algebra, has sold over 8,000 copies The writing style is very accessible The material can be covered easily in a one-year or one-term course Includes Noah Snyder's proof of the Mason-Stothers polynomial abc theorem New material included on product structure for matrices including descriptions of the conjugation representation of the diagonal group

This book integrates both classical and modern treatments of difference equations. It contains the most updated and comprehensive material, yet the presentation is simple enough for the book to be used by advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. This third edition includes more proofs, more graphs, and more applications. The author has also updated the contents by adding a new chapter on Higher Order Scalar Difference Equations; recent results on local and global stability of one-dimensional maps; a new section on the various notions of asymptoticity of solutions; a detailed proof of Levin-May Theorem and the latest results on the LPA flour-beetle model.

In this new text, designed for sophomores studying mathematics and computer science, the authors cover the basics of difference equations and some of their applications in computing and in population biology. Each chapter leads to techniques that can be applied by hand to small examples or programmed for larger problems. Along the way, the reader will use linear algebra and graph theory, develop formal power series, solve combinatorial problems, visit Perron-Frobenius theory, discuss pseudorandom number generation and integer factorization, and apply the Fast Fourier Transform to multiply polynomials quickly. The book contains many worked examples and over 250 exercises. While these exercises are accessible to students and have been class-tested, they also suggest further problems and possible research topics.

In this new text, designed for sophomores studying mathematics and computer science, the authors cover the basics of difference equations and some of their applications in computing and in population biology. Each chapter leads to techniques that can be applied by hand to small examples or programmed for larger problems. Along the way, the reader will use linear algebra and graph theory, develop formal power series, solve combinatorial problems, visit Perron?Frobenius theory, discuss pseudorandom number generation and integer factorization, and apply the Fast Fourier Transform to multiply polynomials quickly. The book contains many worked examples and over 250 exercises. While these exercises are accessible to students and have been class-tested, they also suggest further problems and possible research topics.

Stephanie Frank Singer received her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the Courant Institute in 1991. In 2002 she resigned her tenured professorship at Haverford College. Since then she has been writing and consulting independently. Her first book was Symmetry In Mechanics: A Gentle, Modern Introduction.The predictive power of mathematics in quantum phenomena is one of the great intellectual successes of the 20th century. This textbook, aimed at undergraduate or graduate level students (depending on the college or university), concentrates on how to make predictions about the numbers of each kind of basic state of a quantum system from only two ingredients: the symmetry and the linear model of quantum mechanics. This method, involving the mathematical area of representation theory or group theory, combines three core mathematical subjects, namely, linear algebra, analysis and abstract algebra. Wide applications of this method occur in crystallography, atomic structure, classification of manifolds with symmetry, and other areas.The topics unfold systematically, introducing the reader first to an important example of a quantum system with symmetry, the single electron in a hydrogen atom.Then the reader is given just enough mathematical tools to make predictions about the numbers of each kind of electronic orbital based solely on the physical spherical symmetry of the hydrogen atom. The final chapters address the related ideas of quantum spin, measurement and entanglement.This user-friendly exposition, driven by numerous examples and exercises, requires a solid background in calculus and familiarity with either linear algebra or advanced quantum mechanics. The Hydrogen Atom: An Introduction to Group and Representation Theory will benefit students in mathematics, physics and chemistry, as well as a literate general readership. A separate solutions manual is available to instructors.

This new textbook demonstrates that geometry can be developed in four fundamentally different ways, and that all should be used if the subject is to be shown in all its splendor. Euclid-style construction and axiomatics seem the best way to start, but linear algebra smooths the later stages by replacing some tortuous arguments by simple calculations. And how can one avoid projective geometry? It not only explains why objects look the way they do; it also explains why geometry is entangled with algebra. Finally, one needs to know that there is not one geometry, but many, and transformation groups are the best way to distinguish between them. In this book, two chapters are devoted to each approach, the first being concrete and introductory, while the second is more abstract.Geometry, of all subjects, should be about taking different viewpoints, and geometry is unique among mathematical disciplines in its ability to look different from different angles. Some students prefer to visualize, while others prefer to reason or to calculate.Geometry has something for everyone, and students will find themselves building on their strengths at times, and working to overcome weaknesses at other times. This book will be suitable for a second course in geometry and contains more than 100 figures, and a large selection of exercises in each chapter.

This book is intended as an alternative to the standard differential equations text, which typically includes a large collection of methods and applications, packaged with state-of-the-art color graphics, student solution manuals, the latest fonts, marginal notes, and web-based supplements. These texts adds up to several hundred pages of text and can be very expensive for students to buy. Many students do not have the time or desire to read voluminous texts and explore internet supplements. Here, however, the author writes concisely, to the point, and in plain language. Many examples and exercises are included. In addition, this text also encourages students to use a computer algebra system to solve problems numerically, and as such, templates of MATLAB programs that solve differential equations are given in an appendix, as well as basic Maple and Mathematica commands.

The axiomatic theory of sets is a vibrant part of pure mathematics, with its own basic notions, fundamental results, and deep open problems. It is also viewed as a foundation of mathematics so that "to make a notion precise" simply means "to define it in set theory." This book gives a solid introduction to "pure set theory" through transfinite recursion and the construction of the cumulative hierarchy of sets, and also attempts to explain how mathematical objects can be faithfully modeled within the universe of sets. In this new edition the author has added solutions to the exercises, and rearranged and reworked the text to improve the presentation.

The axiomatic theory of sets is a vibrant part of pure mathematics, with its own basic notions, fundamental results, and deep open problems. It is also viewed as a foundation of mathematics so that "to make a notion precise" simply means "to define it in set theory." This book gives a solid introduction to "pure set theory" through transfinite recursion and the construction of the cumulative hierarchy of sets, and also attempts to explain how mathematical objects can be faithfully modeled within the universe of sets. In this new edition the author has added solutions to the exercises, and rearranged and reworked the text to improve the presentation.

Theorems follow naturally from high school algebra and two key ideas, homogeneous coordinates and intersection multiplicities.By classifying irreducible cubics over the real numbers and proving that their points form Abelian groups, the book gives readers easy access to the study of elliptic curves.

Although teaching and learning with primary historical sources require a commitment of study, the investment yields the rewards of a deeper understanding of the subject, an appreciation of its details, and a glimpse into the direction research has taken.

In introducing his essays on the study and understanding of nature and e- lution, biologist Stephen J. Gould writes: [W]e acquire a surprising source of rich and apparently limitless novelty from the primary documents of great thinkers throughout our history. But why should any nuggets, or even ?akes, be left for int- lectual miners in such terrain? Hasn’t the Origin of Species been read untold millions of times? Hasn’t every paragraph been subjected to overt scholarly scrutiny and exegesis? Letmeshareasecretrootedingeneralhumanfoibles. . . . Veryfew people, including authors willing to commit to paper, ever really read primary sources—certainly not in necessary depth and completion, and often not at all. . . . I can attest that all major documents of science remain cho- full of distinctive and illuminating novelty, if only people will study them—in full and in the original editions. Why would anyone not yearn to read these works; not hunger for the opportunity? [99, p. 6f] It is in the spirit of Gould’s insights on an approach to science based on p- mary texts that we o?er the present book of annotated mathematical sources, from which our undergraduate students have been learning for more than a decade. Although teaching and learning with primary historical sources require a commitment of study, the investment yields the rewards of a deeper understanding of the subject, an appreciation of its details, and a glimpse into the direction research has taken. Our students read sequences of primary sources.

This book is about matrix and linear algebra, and their applications. For many students the tools of matrix and linear algebra will be as fundamental in their professional work as the tools of calculus; thus it is important to ensure that students appreciate the utility and beauty of these subjects as well as the mechanics. To this end, applied mathematics and mathematical modeling ought to have an important role in an introductory treatment of linear algebra. In this way students see that concepts of matrix and linear algebra make concrete problems workable. In this book we weave signi?cant motivating examples into the fabric of the text. I hope that instructors will not omit this material; that would be a missed opportunity for linear algebra! The text has a strong orientation toward numerical computation and applied mathematics, which means that matrix analysis plays a central role. All three of the basic components of l- ear algebra — theory, computation, and applications — receive their due. The proper balance of these components gives students the tools they need as well as the motivation to acquire these tools. Another feature of this text is an emphasis on linear algebra as an experimental science; this emphasis is found in certain examples, computer exercises, and projects. Contemporary mathematical software make ideal “labs” for mathematical experimentation. Nonetheless, this text is independent of speci?c hardware and software pl- forms. Applications and ideas should take center stage, not software.

This book is an informal, although systematic presentation of lectures given by the author on Boolean algebras at the graduate level. In characteristic bold and fresh style, he treats Boolean algebras, develops some intriguing ideas, and provides rare insights. Exercises are generously sprinkled through the text for course study.

This introduction to modern algebra differs from texts in this area in fundamental ways. The author's primary goal is to have the reader learn to work with mathematics through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The choice of content is important, but he regards it as a vehicle, not as an end in itself. It is the raw material through which the readers develop the ability to understand and communicate mathematics. One non-standard feature of the book is that the author proves only a few of the theorems. Most proofs are left as exercises, and these exercises can form the core of a course based on this book.