This is an introduction to algebra via examples. The book moves from properties of integers, through other examples, to the beginnings of group theory. Applicat... » 

This is an introduction to algebra via examples. The book moves from properties of integers, through other examples, to the beginnings of group theory. Applications to public key codes and to error correcting codes are emphasised. These applications, together with sections on logic and finite state machines, make the text suitable for students of computer science as well as mathematics students. Throughout the book, attention is paid to the historical development of mathematical ideas. «