Introduction to algebra. Part 3: Fundamental structures of algebra. (Q2723299)

The book is Volume 3 of a trilogy [Volume 1: Basic algebra (2000; Zbl 0954.15001), Volume 2: Linear algebra (2000; Zbl 0954.15002)], written by the prominent Russian mathematician A. I. Kostrikin. The trilogy is intended for students with majors in mathematics and applied mathematics. It covers some algebraic courses, delivered at the Moscow State University. The links between algebra and other sections of mathematics play an important part and are established permanently to a considerable extent. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe book consists of five chapters (1. Group-theoretic constructions; 2. Structure of groups; 3. Elements of representation theory; 4. Rings and modules; 5. Principles of Galois theory) and Appendix. Presentation of results is essentially based on constructions developed in Volumes 1 and 2. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEIn Chapter 1 the notion of a group is systematically developed. Interrelations between classical groups of small dimensions (\(\text{SO}(2), \text{SO}(3), \text{SU}(2), \text{U}(2), \text{Sp}(1)\)) are established. Basic properties of cosets, actions of groups on sets (homomorphism \(G \to S ( \Omega)\), orbits, stationary subgroups), factor groups (theorems of homomorphisms, derived subgroups, products of groups, generators, defining relations) are introduced and illustrated via important examples (associated actions, translations, transitive groups). The structure of cyclic groups is described. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEChapter 2 is devoted to a systematic investigation of some important classes of groups (solvable, simple, Sylow's \(p\)-groups, finitely generated abelian groups, linear Lie groups). NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEIn Chapter 3 linear representations of groups are studied systematically. Basic properties of unitarity, complete decomposition, characters and irreducible representations are investigated. Representations of \(\text{GL}(n,K)\), \(\text{O}(n)\), \(\text{S}_{n}\), \((Z,+)\), \(\text{SU}(2)\), \(\text{SO}(3)\) are illustrated. Orders of finite subgroups of \(\text{SO}(3)\) are described. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEChapter 4 presents basic results for rings (ideals, homomorphism, isomorphism, Euclidean rings, polynomial extensions, the structure of \(\text{U}(Z_{n})\)), modules (\(K\)-modules, free modules, integer elements of a ring), algebras over a field (\(\text{M}_{n}(P)\), algebras with division, group algebras and modules over them and irreducible modules over Lie algebra \(\text{sl}(2)\)). NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEIn Chapter 5 the author presents basic results for finite extensions of fields (isomorphism of splitting fields, existence of prime elements), finite fields (existence and uniqueness, subfields and automorphisms, Möbius inversion formula), Galois correspondence, design of Galois groups, Galois extensions (prime numbers in arithmetic progression, extensions with abelian Galois groups, valuation and trace, cyclic extensions, criteria for solvability of equations in radicals), stiffness and rationality for finite groups. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe Appendix consists of formulations and comments on the classification of finite simple groups, regular automorphism, strange Lie algebra, Burnside's problem, finite groups of polynomial automorphisms, SR-groups, inverse problem of Galois. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe distinguishing features of the reviewed book are the following ones: 1) clearness, clarity and compactness of exposition; 2) the concentric style of presentation; 3) the variety of skilfully selected examples (from very simple to very complex ones). NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe book is of exceptional interest for the following categories of potential readers: 1) students and postgraduates (with the capacity of a basic textbook and a handbook); 2) lecturers delivering courses of algebra at universities (with the capacity of a source for developing different courses); 3) researchers (with the capacity of a handbook).