¿ What is Exploring Abstract Algebra with Mathematica? Exploring Abstract Algebra with Mathematica is a learning environment for introductory abstract algebra built around a suite of Mathematica packages enti tled AbstractAlgebra. These packages are a foundation for this collection of twenty-seven interactive labs on group and ring theory. The lab portion of this book reflects the contents of the Mathematica-based electronic notebooks con tained in the accompanying CD-ROM. Students can interact with both the printed and electronic versions of the material in the laboratory and look up details and reference information in the User's Guide. Exercises occur in the stream of the text of labs, providing a context in which to answer. The notebooks are designed so that the answers to the questions can either be entered into the electronic notebook or written on paper, whichever the instructor prefers. The notebooks support versions 2. 2 and 3. 0-4. 0 and are compatible with all platforms that run Mathematica. This work can be used to supplement any introductory abstract algebra text and is not dependent on any particular text. The group and ring labs have been cross referenced against some of the more popular texts. This information can be found on our web site at http://www . central. edu/eaarn. htrnl (which is also mirrored at http://www . urnl. edu/Dept/Math/eaarn/eaarn. htrnl). If your favorite text isn't on our list, it can be added upon request by contacting either author.
"This work is intended as an upper-division laboratory supplement for courses
in abstract algebra. It consists of several Mathematica packages that the
authors have programmed as a foundation with two collections of labs for
group theory and ring theory built on this base. Additionally, there is
a ""users guide"" which illustrates the functionality of the underlying
code. The lab portion of the book reflects the contents of the Mathematica-based
electronic notebooks. Students interact with both the printed and electronic
versions of the material in the laboratory, and the students can look up
details and reference information in the Users Guide. Exercises occur in
the stream of the text of the lab, which provides a context within which
to answer. Questions are designed so that they either be written into the
electronic notebook, or on paper, whichever the instructor prefers. The
notebooks are available in both 2.2 and 3.0 versions of Mathematica, and
run across all platforms for which Mathematica exits. Exploring Abstract
Algebra with Mathematica is a very timely addition to the undergraduate
abstract algebra curriculum. This work is unique, filling a tremendous
void in the literature. It offers an environment for studying algebraic
structures using Mathematica, to write computer labs in which students
can explore the ideas in abstract algebra computationally and visually,
and it provides a Users Guide for the data structures and commands of this
package. Flexibility of use, and the intention of the authors to make this
work highly visual, e.g., with the inclusion of a fullcolor insert of significant
algebraic concepts/images, make this publication pedagogically useful to
both instructors and students alike."
