I’ve been working most of today on the foundations of my Modern Algebra course for the fall, which you will remember is being done without a required textbook. The last time I posted about this course ...

The use of the letter x as a mathematical unknown is a relatively modern convention. Algebra has been around for a lot longer. Daryl Benson/Stockbyte via Getty Images You might be most familiar with x ...

It’s been a while since I last said anything about the textbook-free Modern Algebra class experiment. This is mainly because the class itself is now underway, five weeks into the semester, and it’s ...

For most people, the word "algebra" conjures classroom memories of Xs and Ys. Weekend Edition's math guy, Keith Devlin, says that's because most schools do a terrible job of teaching it. He talks with ...

You scrambled up a Rubik’s cube, and now you want to put it back in order. What sequence of moves should you make? Surprise: You can answer this question with modern algebra. You might remember ...

The study of Gorenstein algebras has emerged as a cornerstone of modern algebra, offering a powerful paradigm in which duality and symmetry in module theory can be rigorously examined. These algebras ...

Several fields of mathematics have developed in total isolation, using their own 'undecipherable' coded languages. Mathematicians now present 'big algebras,' a two-way mathematical 'dictionary' ...

Mathematical logic, set theory, lattices and universal algebra form an interconnected framework that underpins much of modern mathematics. At its heart, mathematical logic provides rigorous formal ...

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Surprise: You can answer this question with modern algebra. Most folks who have been ...