Laboratory Experiences in Group Theory: A Manual to Be Used With Exploring Small Groups (Classroom Resource Materials)

Rating:
Summary: Good tool for learning group theory
Review: To learn group theory, it is necessary to work your way through several examples. This not only teaches you the basic structure of groups, but also shows you how many forms groups can take. However, that can lead to a great deal of tedium, as writing out the examples of even small finite groups takes a great deal of time. Therein lies the value in the software that accompanies this book.
It is written in DOS, but can run in Windows and contains a series of demonstrations of many of the classic finite groups that are generally used to demonstrate basic theory. You can choose which set to examine and then have the program verify the three properties that define a group. Additional options are to check for left and right identities and if the group is commutative.
This repetition, directed through the exercises listed in the book, gives a complete introduction to group theory. The combination of the book and the software make up a solid package that you should consider for use in your course in elementary group theory.