Publisher's Synopsis
The book presents basic results in Algebra and Linear Algebra. It needs no prerequisites except some knowledge of set theory and number systems. The initial chapters cover the topics such as Groups, Rings and Vector spaces usually taught at the under-graduate level. The latter chapters contain some additional topics such as modules, structure theorems. Galois theory, canonical forms and quadratic forms which are taught at the post-graduate level. The topics have been presented in a simple, clear and coherent style with a number of examples and exercises. Proofs have been made direct and simple, omitting irrelevant details. The book has evolved out of teaching over a period of years and can serve as a textbook on Algebra as well as Linear Algebra. About the Author(s): Prof. Gopalakrishnan passed his B.Sc. (Hons) in Mathematics from Vivekananda College Madras in 1955 and his M.A. in the same subject from the University of Madras in 1956. He had his early research training at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay. He did his Ph.D. in Homological Algebra in 1963 from the Poona University. He has been teaching Algebra, Algebraic Topology, Homological Algebra and Commutative Algebra in the Poona University. He is a Professor in the department of Mathematics and a recognised guide for Ph.D. in the University of Poona. He has participated in various national and international symposia and has taught at several summer Institutes. He has published research papers in scientific journals, and has written a textbook,``Commutative Algebra``. Contents: Groups Rings , Vector Spaces and Modules Fields Matrices and Linear Transformations.