Matej Brešar

This textbook offers an elementary introduction to noncommutative rings and algebras. Beginning with the classical theory of finite-dimensional algebras, it then develops a more general structure theory of rings, grounded in modules and tensor products. The final chapters cover free algebras, polynomial identities, and rings of quotients. Many results are presented in a simplified form rather than in full generality, with an emphasis on clear and understandable exposition. Prerequisites are kept to a minimum, and new concepts are introduced gradually and carefully motivated. Introduction to Noncommutative Algebra is thus accessible to a broad mathematical audience, though it is primarily intended for beginning graduate students and advanced undergraduates encountering the subject for the first time. This new edition includes several additions and improvements, while preserving the original text’s character and approach. Praise for the first edition: “It will soon find its place in classrooms” — Plamen Koshlukov, Mathematical Reviews “Very well written [...] very pleasant to read” — Veereshwar A. Hiremath, zbMATH “An excellent choice for a first graduate course” — D. S. Larson, Choice

This book provides a concise survey of the theory of zero product-determined algebras, which has been developed over the last 15 years. It is divided into three parts. The first part presents the purely algebraic branch of the theory, the second part presents the functional analytic branch, and the third part discusses various applications. The book is intended for researchers and graduate students in ring theory, Banach algebra theory, and nonassociative algebra.

This textbook offers an innovative approach to abstract algebra, based on a unified treatment of similar concepts across different algebraic structures. This makes it possible to express the main ideas of algebra more clearly and to avoid unnecessary repetition.The book consists of two parts: The Language of Algebra and Algebra in Action. The unified approach to different algebraic structures is a primary feature of the first part, which discusses the basic notions of algebra at an elementary level. The second part is mathematically more complex, covering topics such as the Sylow theorems, modules over principal ideal domains, and Galois theory.Intended for an undergraduate course or for self-study, the book is written in a readable, conversational style, is rich in examples, and contains over 700 carefully selected exercises.

Providing an elementary introduction to noncommutative rings and algebras, this textbook begins with the classical theory of finite dimensional algebras. Only after this, modules, vector spaces over division rings, and tensor products are introduced and studied. This is followed by Jacobson's structure theory of rings. The final chapters treat free algebras, polynomial identities, and rings of quotients.Many of the results are not presented in their full generality. Rather, the emphasis is on clarity of exposition and simplicity of the proofs, with several being different from those in other texts on the subject. Prerequisites are kept to a minimum, and new concepts are introduced gradually and are carefully motivated. Introduction to Noncommutative Algebra is therefore accessible to a wide mathematical audience. It is, however, primarily intended for beginning graduate and advanced undergraduate students encountering noncommutative algebra for the first time.

A functional identity (FI) can be informally described as an identical relation involving(arbitrary)elementsinaringtogetherwith(“unknown”)functions;more precisely,elementsaremultipliedbyvaluesoffunctions.ThegoalofthegeneralFI theory is to determine the form of these functions, or, when this is not possible, to determine the structure of the ring admitting the FI in question. This theory has turnedouttobeapowerfultoolfor solvingavarietyofproblemsindi?erentareas. It is not always easy to recognize that the problem in question can be interpreted through some FI; often this is the most intriguing part of the process. But once one succeeds in discovering an FI that ?ts into the general theory, this abstract theory then as a rule yields the desired conclusions at a high level of generality. Among classical algebraic concepts, the one of a polynomial identity (PI) seems to be, at least on the surface, the closest one to the concept of an FI. In fact, a PI is formally just a very special example of an FI (where functions are polynomials).However,the theoryof PI’shasquite di?erent goalsthan the theory of FI’s. One could say, especially from the point of view of applications, that the twotheoriesarecomplementaryto eachother.Under somenaturalrestrictions,PI theorydealswithringsthatareclosetoalgebrasoflowdimensions,whileFItheory gives de?nitive answers in algebras of su?ciently large or in?nite dimensions.