Synopses & Reviews
This book gives an account of recent developments on the interplay between theoretical aspects of commutative algebra and algebraic geometry and computational issues in algebra. A great deal of emphasis is given to the fact that the non-elementary complexity of the underlying fundamental algorithms and data structures (e.g. factorization, Gröbner bases, matrices with polynomial entries) require that the cost of computation be borne largely by theoretical means. The material is focused on the explicit construction of basic objects of algebrogeometric interest - primary decomposition, integral closure, computation of ideal transforms and cohomology, among others. It looks also at various numerical signatures of rings and modules such as those obtained from their Hilbert functions. Another feature is an analysis of nonlinear systems of polynomial equations with the view as to how best deliver the equations to numerical solvers. There are numerous pointers to the current literature, which together with the exercises and a selected set of challenge questions round the text. From the reviews of the hardcover edition: "... Many parts of the book can be read by anyone with a basic abstract algebra course. It seems to the reviewer that it was one of the author's intentions to equip students who are interested in computational problems with the necessary algebraic background in pure mathematics and to encourage them to do further research in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry. But researchers will also benefit from this exposition. They will find an up-to-date description of the related research. ... The reviewer recommends the book to anybody who is interested in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry and its computational aspects." (P.Schenzel, Mathematical Reviews 2002)
Review
From the reviews of the hardcover edition:
... Many parts of the book can be read by anyone with a basic abstract algebra course. It seems to the reviewer that it was one of the author's intentions to equip students who are interested in computational problems with the necessary algebraic background in pure mathematics and to encourage them to do further research in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry. But researchers will also benefit from this exposition. They will find an up-to-date description of the related research. ... The reviewer recommends the book to anybody who is interested in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry and its computational aspects." (P.Schenzel, Mathematical Reviews 2002)
"... I would describe this book as a sophisticated notebook, with plenty of suggestions, examples and cross references, reporting on the work of Vasconcelos himself and of many others. ... It is a welcome new and deep exploration into commutative algebra and its relations with algebraic geometry. It is full of results, from simple tricks to more elaborate constructions, all having in common a computational and constructive nature. It will be a gold mine especially for those commutative algebraists who share with Vasconcelos the tast for a homological point of view. ..." (E.Sernesi, Jahresberichte der DMV 1999, Vol. 101, Issue 4)
"... Das Buch ist ... kein Lehrbuch im 
Synopsis
From the reviews:
"... Many parts of the book can be read by anyone with a basic abstract algebra course... it was one of the author's intentions to equip students who are interested in computational problems with the necessary algebraic background in pure mathematics and to encourage them to do further research in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry. But researchers will also benefit from this exposition. They will find an up-to-date description of the related research ... The reviewer recommends the book to anybody who is interested in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry and its computational aspects."
Math. Reviews 2002
"... a sophisticated notebook, with plenty of suggestions, examples and cross references ... It is a welcome new and deep exploration into commutative algebra and its relations with algebraic geometry. It is full of results, from simple tricks to more elaborate constructions, all having in common a computational and constructive nature..."
Jahresberichte der DMV 1999
Synopsis
This volume of the ACM series is devoted to research in computational techniques in commutative algebra. It addresses advanced students and researchers in this field, as well as computer scientists and programmers developing symbolic computation software.
Synopsis
This ACM volume deals with tackling problems that can be represented by data structures which are essentially matrices with polynomial entries, mediated by the disciplines of commutative algebra and algebraic geometry. The discoveries stem from an interdisciplinary branch of research which has been growing steadily over the past decade. The author covers a wide range, from showing how to obtain deep heuristics in a computation of a ring, a module or a morphism, to developing means of solving nonlinear systems of equations - highlighting the use of advanced techniques to bring down the cost of computation. Although intended for advanced students and researchers with interests both in algebra and computation, many parts may be read by anyone with a basic abstract algebra course.
Table of Contents
Fundamental Algorithms.- Toolkit.- Principles of Primary Decomposition.- Computing in Artin Algebras.- Nullstellensätze.- Integral Closure.- Ideal Transforms and Rings of Invariants.- Computation of Cohomology (by David Eisenbud).- Degrees of Complexity of a Graded Module.- Appendix A. A Primer on Commutative Algebra.- Appendix B. Hilbert Functions (by Jürgen Herzog).- Appendix C. Using Macaulay 2 (by David Eisenbud, Daniel Grayson and Michael Stillman).- Bibliography.- Index.