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This is the first graduate textbook on the algorithmic aspects of real algebraic geometry. The main ideas and techniques presented form a coherent and rich body of knowledge. Mathematicians will find relevant information about the algorithmic aspects. Researchers in computer science and engineering will find the required mathematical background. Being self-contained the book is accessible to graduate students and even, for invaluable parts of it, to undergraduate students. This second edition contains several recent results on discriminants of symmetric matrices and other relevant topics.

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This introduction to the recent exciting developments in the applications of model theory to algebraic geometry, illustrated by E. Hrushovski's model-theoretic proof of the geometric Mordell-Lang Conjecture starts from very basic background and works up to the detailed exposition of Hrushovski's proof, explaining the necessary tools and results from stability theory on the way. The first chapter is an informal introduction to model theory itself, making the book accessible (with a little effort) to readers with no previous knowledge of model theory. The authors have collaborated closely to achieve a coherent and self- contained presentation, whereby the completeness of exposition of the chapters varies according to the existence of other good references, but comments and examples are always provided to give the reader some intuitive understanding of the subject. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not bad
The book which I got is not bad.
I bought a paper book.
But this book is like copy one. ... Read more

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Algebraic Geometry is the study of systems of polynomial equations in one or more variables, asking such questions as: Does the system have finitely many solutions, and if so how can one find them? And if there are infinitely many solutions, how can they be described and manipulated?The solutions of a system of polynomial equations form a geometric object called a variety; the corresponding algebraic object is an ideal. There is a close relationship between ideals and varieties which reveals the intimate link between algebra and geometry.Written at a level appropriate to undergraduates, this book covers such topics as the Hilbert Basis Theorem, the Nullstellensatz, invariant theory, projective geometry, and dimension theory.

The algorithms to answer questions such as those posed above are an important part of algebraic geometry.This book bases its discussion of algorithms on a generalization of the division algorithm for polynomials in one variable that was only discovered it the 1960's. Although the algorithmic roots of algebraic geometry are old, the computational aspects were neglected earlier in this century.This has changed in recent years, and new algorithms, coupled with the power of fast computers, have let to some interesting applications, for example in robotics and in geometric Theorem proving.

In preparing a new edition of "Ideals, Varieties and Algorithms" the authors present an improved proof of the Buchberger Criterion as well as a proof of Bezout's Theorem. Appendix C contains a new section on Axiom and an update about Maple, Mathematica and REDUCE. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Symbolic computation
This book explains and illustrates the algorithms used by symbolic math packages such as Mathematica, Maple, CoCoA, MatLab, MuPAD,... to solve problems involving polynomials in many variables, and along theway teaches the elements of real algebraic geometry-- most mathematics texts concentrate on the complex-variable version. It is not just for undergraduates; electrical engineers, for instance, should see it.Lots of pictures!

Easiest introduction to Algebraic Geometry
This is the easiest introduction to algebraic geometry and commutative algebra, the authors had done a great job in writing a book that assume very little from the readers. To learn some algebraic geometry, you can either start with this book, or you can spend a year to read a lot of background materials in algebra and then go to a Graduate Text like Harris' book. Of course, if you want to be an expert in algebra, you eventually need a lot of background, what this book can help you is to offer you a quick start, much quicker than you would ever imagine.

Straightforward and lucidly written
Having just finished using this text in the course of an undergraduate seminar, I can attest to the fact that the authors' style is outstanding - they are able to synthesize an enormous amount of material in this volume and present it in a manner that is highly accessible to almost all students of mathematics.The presentation of important theorems (for example, Hilbert's Nullstellensatz and Basis Theorem) along with just the right amount of copncrete examples makes for a book of superb quality.All-around, I highly recommend this volume to anyone who has an interest in learning about Algebraic Geometry.

Good book
I don't have the second edition of this book but did read the first, and the authors do a fine job of introducing the reader to the computational side of algebraic geometry. I will forego a chapter by chapter review therefore, but no doubt the second edition (which I do not own) is as well-written as the first. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the many applications of algebraic geometry and to those who need to understand how to compute things in algebraic geometry. The good thing about this book is that it gives a concrete flavor to a highly abstract subject. Algebraic geometry, through its applications to coding theory, cryptography, and computer graphics, is fast becoming the subject to learn. It is no longer just an esoteric, high-brow subject but one that is taking on major importance in the information age. Even without applications though it is a fascinating subject, and readers will get a taste of this in this book.

The best book on the topic
I learned the basics of Groebner bases from this book and its the best introductory book on this topic. Authors have explained all concepts with the help of examples which makes it readable for people from other fields also. It also talks about applications of Groebner bases to other fields. The book gives lot of exercises which help in understanding the contents more. I recommend that if you wish to learn Algebraic Geometry and Groebner bases then this is the book to start with. ... Read more

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This book provides a quick access to computational tools for algebraic geometry, the mathematical discipline which handles solution sets of polynomial equations. Originating from a number of intense one week schools taught by the authors, the text is designed so as to provide a step by step introduction which enables the reader to get started with his own computational experiments right away. The authors present the basic concepts and ideas in a compact way.

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Recent advances in computing and algorithms make it easier to do many classical problems in algebra. Suitable for graduate students, this book brings advanced algebra to life with many examples. The first three chapters provide an introduction to commutative algebra and connections to geometry. The remainder of the book focuses on three active areas of contemporary algebra: homological algebra; algebraic combinatorics and algebraic topology; and algebraic geometry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent comprehension
I will not say this book is an introduction but that its a confusion remover for a serious student of algebraic geometry. This book I consider a part of the much needed revolution happening in algebraic geometry which means that if you browse or spend time reading a book you must learn something. Excellent coverage of a fascinating subject. Enjoy! ... Read more

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Alexander Grothendieck's concepts turned out to be astoundingly powerful and productive, truly revolutionizing algebraic geometry. He sketched his new theories in talks given at the Séminaire Bourbaki between 1957 and 1962. He then collected these lectures in a series of articles in Fondements de la géométrie algébrique (commonly known as FGA). Much of FGA is now common knowledge. However, some of it is less well known, and only a few geometers are familiar with its full scope. The goal of the current book, which resulted from the 2003 Advanced School in Basic Algebraic Geometry (Trieste, Italy), is to fill in the gaps in Grothendieck's very condensed outline of his theories. The four main themes discussed in the book are descent theory, Hilbert and Quot schemes, the formal existence theorem, and the Picard scheme. The authors present complete proofs of the main results, using newer ideas to promote understanding whenever necessary, and drawing connections to later developments. With the main prerequisite being a thorough acquaintance with basic scheme theory, this book is a valuable resource for anyone working in algebraic geometry. ... Read more

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This book focuses on recent advances in the classification of complex projective varieties. It is divided into two parts. The first part gives a detailed account of recent results in the minimal model program. In particular, it contains a complete proof of the theorems on the existence of flips, on the existence of minimal models for varieties of log general type and of the finite generation of the canonical ring. The second part is an introduction to the theory of moduli spaces. It includes topics such as representing and moduli functors, Hilbert schemes, the boundedness, local closedness and separatedness of moduli spaces and the boundedness for varieties of general type.

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Deals with modern algebraic geometry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a classic in mathematics
Such a nice book and the price wasn't so hight! I'd buy again with confidence. ... Read more

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The classification theory of algebraic varieties is the focus of this book. This very active area of research is still developing, but an amazing quantity of knowledge has accumulated over the past twenty years. The authors goal is to provide an easily accessible introduction to the subject. The book starts with preparatory and standard definitions and results, then moves on to discuss various aspects of the geometry of smooth projective varieties with many rational curves, and finishes in taking the first steps towards Moris minimal model program of classification of algebraic varieties by proving the cone and contraction theorems. The book is well-organized and the author has kept the number of concepts that are used but not proved to a minimum to provide a mostly self-contained introduction. ... Read more

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This introductory textbook for a graduate course in pure mathematics provides a gateway into the two difficult fields of algebraic geometry and commutative algebra. Algebraic geometry, supported fundamentally by commutative algebra, is a cornerstone of pure mathematics.

Along the lines developed by Grothendieck, this book delves into the rich interplay between algebraic geometry and commutative algebra. A selection is made from the wealth of material in the discipline, along with concise yet clear definitions and synopses. ... Read more

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First published in 1952, this book has proven a valuable introduction for generations of students. It provides a clear and systematic development of projective geometry, building on concepts from linear algebra. ... Read more

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Aimed primarily at graduate students and beginning researchers, this book provides an introduction to algebraic geometry that is particularly suitable for those with no previous contact with the subject and assumes only the standard background of undergraduate algebra. It is developed from a masters course given at the Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, and focusses on projective algebraic geometry over an algebraically closed base field.

The book starts with easily-formulated problems with non-trivial solutions – for example, Bézout’s theorem and the problem of rational curves – and uses these problems to introduce the fundamental tools of modern algebraic geometry: dimension; singularities; sheaves; varieties; and cohomology. The treatment uses as little commutative algebra as possible by quoting without proof (or proving only in special cases) theorems whose proof is not necessary in practice, the priority being to develop an understanding of the phenomena rather than a mastery of the technique. A range of exercises is provided for each topic discussed, and a selection of problems and exam papers are collected in an appendix to provide material for further study.

Customer Reviews (1)

one of the best introductory books
Although not in every way an easy book,
this book has both great examples
and discussion of ideals, schemes, modules, rings and sheaves.
Projective spaces and algebraic varietiesseem to bridge
gaps in the traditional analytic geometry approach to curves.
I suppose that a better coverage of the theory of duals
would have helped me more, but there is a lot of the stuff needed
in this book.The coverage of genus arguments is better than
that of Hilbert Polynomials. The coverage the connection between parametric and implicit curves
is what sold me on this book.
... Read more

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Mirror symmetry began when theoretical physicists made some astonishing predictions about rational curves on quintic hypersurfaces in four-dimensional projective space. Understanding the mathematics behind these predictions has been a substantial challenge. This book is the first completely comprehensive monograph on mirror symmetry, covering the original observations by the physicists through the most recent progress made to date. Subjects discussed include toric varieties, Hodge theory, Kähler geometry, moduli of stable maps, Calabi-Yau manifolds, quantum cohomology, Gromov-Witten invariants, and the mirror theorem. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Powerful
This is a very specialized text focusing on the marriage of mirror symmetry - a phenomenal concept that arises in String Theory - and the language of Algebraic Geometry; extremely well-written, it is a definitive on the topic.

Excellent overview of mirror symmetry
This book is one of the few monographs on mirror symmetry that is not a collection of articles written by specialists. It attempts to put mirror symmetry on a mathematically rigorous foundation and does so to a large degree. The book opens with a review of the motivations for mirror symmetry in quantum field theory and superstring theory. The content of this chapter is straightforward reading for physicists/string theorists but mathematicians may have trouble with the physical reasoning employed. The chapter explains the motivation for the mathematical constructions performed in the rest of the book. The author does a good job of presenting the mathematics in a form that is as rigorous as possible. The predictions made by physicists to quantities in in algebraic geometry are too interesting from a mathematical standpoint to let lay couched in the formalism of path integrals. The book gives many examples of mirror symmetry constructions that are rigorous mathematically, most of these involving toric varieties. A general methodology for finding the mirror of a given Calabi-Yau manifold is still unknown according to the author. By far the best chapter in the book is the one on quantum cohomology, as this tool has so many applications in algebraic and symplectic geometry. One is always impressed on the originality and breadth of ideas that have been employed in this subject. There are several topics in mirror symmetry that are not discussed in the book, but even with these omissions, this is a fine addition to the literature on the subject. One question that immediately arises when thinking about mirror symmetry is there is anything that is interesting in the case of Calabi-Yau manifolds over finite fields. The special case that comes to mind is for elliptic curves. Are mirrors of Calabi-Yau manifolds easier to find in the finite field case and does the mirror have a group operation related to the one on the original manifold (elliptic curve)? These questions are not addressed in this book, but answering them may have important ramifications for applications of mirror symmetry to the field of cryptography for example. ... Read more

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This volume contains the lectures presented at the third Regional Geometry Institute at Park City in 1993. The lectures provide an introduction to the subject, complex algebraic geometry, making the book suitable as a text for second- and third-year graduate students. The book deals with topics in algebraic geometry where one can reach the level of current research while starting with the basics. Topics covered include the theory of surfaces from the viewpoint of recent higher-dimensional developments, providing an excellent introduction to more advanced topics such as the minimal model program. Also included is an introduction to Hodge theory and intersection homology based on the simple topological ideas of Lefschetz and an overview of the recent interactions between algebraic geometry and theoretical physics, which involve mirror symmetry and string theory. ... Read more

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"An introduction to the ideas of algebraic geometry in the motivated context of system theory." This describes this two-volume work which has been specifically written to serve the needs of researchers and students of systems, control, and applied mathematics. Without sacrificing mathematical rigor, the author makes the basic ideas of algebraic geometry accessible to engineers and applied scientists. The emphasis is on constructive methods and clarity rather than on abstraction. While familiarity with Part I is helpful, it is not essential, since a considerable amount of relevant material is included here.

Part I Scalar Linear Systems and Affine Algebraic Geometry contains a clear presentation, with an applied flavor, of the core ideas in the algebro-geometric treatment of scalar linear system theory. Part II extends the theory to multivariable systems. After delineating limitations of the scalar theory through carefully chosen examples, the author introduces seven representations of a multivariable linear system and establishes the major results of the underlying theory. Of key importance is a clear, detailed analysis of the structure of the space of linear systems including the full set of equations defining the space. Key topics also covered are the Geometric Quotient Theorem and a highly geometric analysis of both state and output feedback.

Prerequisites are the basics of linear algebra, some simple topological notions, the elementary properties of groups, rings, and fields, and a basic course in linear systems. Exercises, which are an integral part of the exposition throughout, combined with an index and extensive bibliography of related literature make this a valuable classroom tool or good self-study resource. ... Read more

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This book presents fundamentals from the theory of algebraic surfaces, including areas such as rational singularities of surfaces and their relation with Grothendieck duality theory, numerical criteria for contractibility of curves on an algebraic surface, and the problem of minimal models of surfaces. In fact, the classification of surfaces is the main scope of this book and the author presents the approach developed by Mumford and Bombieri. Chapters also cover the Zariski decomposition of effective divisors and graded algebras. ... Read more

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This book presents algorithmic tools for algebraic geometry and experimental applications of them. It also introduces a software system in which the tools have been implemented and with which the experiments can be carried out. Macaulay 2 is a computer algebra system devoted to supporting research in algebraic geometry, commutative algebra, and their applications. The reader of this book will encounter Macaulay 2 in the context of concrete applications and practical computations in algebraic geometry. The expositions of the algorithmic tools presented here are designed to serve as a useful guide for those wishing to bring such tools to bear on their own problems. ... Read more

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This classic is one of the cornerstones of modern algebraic geometry. At the same time, it is entirely self-contained, assuming no knowledge whatsoever of algebraic geometry, and no knowledge of modern algebra beyond the simplest facts about abstract fields and their extensions, and the bare rudiments of the theory of ideals. ... Read more

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From reviews of the first edition:

"In the world of mathematics, the 1980's might well be described as the "decade of the fractal". Starting with Benoit Mandelbrot's remarkable text The Fractal Geometry of Nature, there has been a deluge of books, articles and television programmes about the beautiful mathematical objects, drawn by computers using recursive or iterative algorithms, which Mandelbrot christened fractals. Gerald Edgar's book is a significant addition to this deluge. Based on a course given to talented high- school students at Ohio University in 1988, it is, in fact, an advanced undergraduate textbook about the mathematics of fractal geometry, treating such topics as metric spaces, measure theory, dimension theory, and even some algebraic topology...the book also contains many good illustrations of fractals (including 16 color plates)."

Mathematics Teaching

"The book can be recommended to students who seriously want to know about the mathematical foundation of fractals, and to lecturers who want to illustrate a standard course in metric topology by interesting examples."

Christoph Bandt, Mathematical Reviews

"...not only intended to fit mathematics students who wish to learn fractal geometry from its beginning but also students in computer science who are interested in the subject. Especially, for the last students the author gives the required topics from metric topology and measure theory on an elementary level. The book is written in a very clear style and contains a lot of exercises which should be worked out."

H.Haase, Zentralblatt

About the second edition: Changes throughout the text, taking into account developments in the subject matter since 1990; Major changes in chapter 6. Since 1990 it has become clear that there are two notions of dimension that play complementary roles, so the emphasis on Hausdorff dimension will be replaced by the two: Hausdorff dimension and packing dimension. 6.1 will remain, but a new section on packing dimension will follow it, then the old sections 6.2--6.4 will be re-written to show both types of dimension; Substantial change in chapter 7: new examples along with recent developments; Sections rewritten to be made clearer and more focused.

Customer Reviews (4)

some new material->same approach
I bought the first edition of this in the early 90's
and was disappointed that it didn't have the Mandelbrot or other complex dynamics
in it. Dr. Edgar has updated the older book with Julias, multifractals
and Superfractals, but has stayed true to his topological measure theory
Hausdorff space approach. He never updates his Biscovitch-Ursell functions
to 2d and 3d parametrics or the unit Mandelbrot cartoon method.
Some of his definitions are still so minimal
that duplicating the fractals needs much more information?!
The text is still the good place to begin, but
it is a shame that Dr. Edgar has not kept up
with many of the developments in the field. Zipf and Per Bak
are left out, but my double V L-system made the index as a picture.

A nice book
I liked this book because it provided me with a new perspective on metricspaces, in using them as a basis learning about fractals. I think it servesas a nice book for an undergraduate to read and get enthused about studyingfractals at a higher level.

Good starting point to study fractal geometry.
This book could be used as a bridge between traditional books on topology-analysis and the speciallized treatises on fractal geometry. More a catalog of definitions, methods, and references than a course text, itcovers the fundamental topological and measure-theoretic concepts needed tounderstand the principles of some of the different dimension theories thatexist. But warning: the book is far away of being a complete exposition onany of the subjects it includes.

Suitable for 3rd-year undergrads.Interesting examples and exercises. Extensive bibliography.

Please checkmy other reviews in my member page (just click on my name above).

A difficult but worthy book!
The programs are in LOGO: don't let the turtles fool you, this is the real stuff by a master teacher. It is hard and the examples are even harder. The problem sets are at times impossible, but in the end Dr. Edgar delivers: understanding! Your unique Associates ID is:thefractaltransl. ... Read more

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From the reviews: "This volume... consists of two papers. The first, written by V.V. Shokurov, is devoted to the theory of Riemann surfaces and algebraic curves. It is an excellent overview of the theory of relations between Riemann surfaces and their models - complex algebraic curves in complex projective spaces. ... The second paper, written by V.I. Danilov, discusses algebraic varieties and schemes. ... I can recommend the book as a very good introduction to the basic algebraic geometry." European Mathematical Society Newsletter, 1996
"... To sum up, this book helps to learn algebraic geometry in a short time, its concrete style is enjoyable for students and reveals the beauty of mathematics." Acta Scientiarum Mathematicarum ... Read more