Innovations in Teaching Abstract Algebra

Abstract of article: This article discusses the use of the software Groups, Algorithms and Programming (GAP) as a tool in a first undergraduate course in abstract algebra. Specific exercises that the author has used in her classes will be explained and discussed. The software is used to provide students with numerous examples of algebraic objects and to demonstrate the patterns and structure of this area of mathematics. Information about how to acquire and use the software and additional related information is provided. In addition, a web site that contains a large collection of GAP exercises for a first course in abstract algebra is described.

About the author: Julianne Rainbolt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Computer Science at Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, Missouri. She received a B.A. in mathematics and philosophy from Ohio Wesleyan University. She earned her Ph.D. in group representation theory from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1996. From 1996-1998 Dr. Rainbolt held a postdoctoral position at Michigan State University before her current position at Saint Louis University.

Software used: GAP

Other links: web site for the GAP manual that accompanies Contemporary Abstract Algebra