From rings to modules to groups to fields, this undergraduate introduction to abstract algebra follows an unconventional path. The text emphasizes a modern perspective on the subject, with gentle mentions of the unifying categorical principles underlying the various constructions and the role of universal properties. A key feature is the treatment of modules, including a proof of the classification theorem for finitely generated modules over Euclidean domains. Noetherian modules and some of the language of exact complexes are introduced. In addition, standard topics - such as the Chinese Remainder Theorem, the Gauss Lemma, the Sylow Theorems, simplicity of alternating groups, standard results on field extensions, and the Fundamental Theorem of Galois Theory - are all treated in detail. Students will appreciate the text's conversational style, 400+ exercises, an appendix with complete solutions to around 150 of the main text problems, and an appendix with general background on basic logic and naive set theory.

Written to honor the 80th birthday of William Fulton, the articles collected in this volume (the first of a pair) present substantial contributions to algebraic geometry and related fields, with an emphasis on combinatorial algebraic geometry and intersection theory. Featured topics include commutative algebra, moduli spaces, quantum cohomology, representation theory, Schubert calculus, and toric and tropical geometry. The range of these contributions is a testament to the breadth and depth of Fulton's mathematical influence. The authors are all internationally recognized experts, and include well-established researchers as well as rising stars of a new generation of mathematicians. The text aims to stimulate progress and provide inspiration to graduate students and researchers in the field.

Written to honor the 80th birthday of William Fulton, the articles collected in this volume (the second of a pair) present substantial contributions to algebraic geometry and related fields, with an emphasis on combinatorial algebraic geometry and intersection theory. Featured include commutative algebra, moduli spaces, quantum cohomology, representation theory, Schubert calculus, and toric and tropical geometry. The range of these contributions is a testament to the breadth and depth of Fulton's mathematical influence. The authors are all internationally recognized experts, and include well-established researchers as well as rising stars of a new generation of mathematicians. The text aims to stimulate progress and provide inspiration to graduate students and researchers in the field.

These are transcripts of notes taken at (some of) the lectures given at the Mittag-Leffler Institute during the first semester of the year 1996/97 on Enumerative geometry and its interaction with theoretical physics. The first part of this collection consists of notes from talks on the basics of quantum cohomology; the second part treats more advanced topics in quantum cohomology; the third part consists of background material and related topics; an appendix gives a description of Kresch's C-program Farsta for quantum cohomology computations. These notes are meant as a series of snapshots of quantum cohomology as seen by the speakers at the time of their lectures. The reader should bear in mind that quantum cohomology is a growing and rapidly changing field. Many of the writeups have been left in the form of the original talks, which were usually more concerned with giving motivations and a point of view, rather than conveying detailed proofs or attempting to survey the considerably extensive literature on the subject.