Roger L. Cooke 
Classical Algebra 
Its Nature, Origins, and Uses

This insightful book combines the history, pedagogy, and
popularization of algebra to present a unified discussion of the
subject.

Classical Algebra provides a complete and contemporary
perspective on classical polynomial algebra through the exploration
of how it was developed and how it exists today. With a focus on
prominent areas such as the numerical solutions of equations, the
systematic study of equations, and Galois theory, this book
facilitates a thorough understanding of algebra and illustrates how
the concepts of modern algebra originally developed from classical
algebraic precursors.

This book successfully ties together the disconnect between
classical and modern algebraand provides readers with answers to
many fascinating questions that typically go unexamined,
including:

* What is algebra about?

* How did it arise?

* What uses does it have?

* How did it develop?

* What problems and issues have occurred in its history?

* How were these problems and issues resolved?

The author answers these questions and more, shedding light on a
rich history of the subject–from ancient and medieval times
to the present. Structured as eleven ‘lessons’ that are intended to
give the reader further insight on classical algebra, each chapter
contains thought-provoking problems and stimulating questions, for
which complete answers are provided in an appendix.

Complemented with a mixture of historical remarks and analyses
of polynomial equations throughout, Classical Algebra: Its Nature,
Origins, and Uses is an excellent book for mathematics courses at
the undergraduate level. It also serves as a valuable resource to
anyone with a general interest in mathematics.

Sobre o autor

Roger Cooke, Ph D, is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Vermont. Dr. Cooke has over forty years of academic experience, and his areas of research interest include the history of mathematics, almost-periodic functions, uniqueness of trigonometric series representations, and Fourier analysis. He is also the author of The History of Mathematics: A Brief Course, Second Edition (Wiley).