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Which textbook is good for introductory group theory?

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    Is a "Group Theory" book different from an "Abstract Algebra" book?2011-03-07
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    I'd take Lang's "Algebra" as an introductory text on any topic in abstract algebra2011-03-07
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    @Matt: Yes, it can be very different. Rotman's "Introduction to the Theory of Groups" is a great introductory (and beyond) Group Theory book, but it would be a pretty lousy introductory Abstract Algebra book...2011-03-07
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    I remember once going to the library to find a book on group theory. I couldn't remember the authors name, but I knew the title included the words "course", "group" and "theory". Needless to say, many, many (many!) books fit this description...(I I now know that I was looking for the book "A course in the theory of groups", by Robinson. Which is, by the way, an excellent graduate-level text on the subject).2011-09-08
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    Good in what sense? If you are asking for a book recommendation, you should describe what criteria you are looking for.2011-09-08
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    @Willie: He asked "introductory" one. I think you mean he should provide the background or something like that? `:-)`2011-09-08
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    Better perhaps: go to your local university's mathematics library and dive into the subject. Read and read different books (in my university's mathematics library Group Theory was in the catalog number 23. I'm not sure whether this is international or not) until you find 2-3 that appeal to you more than others (for their simplicity, their organization, their language, notation, etc.), then you can try to read only these ones as a first approach to the subject.2013-02-23
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    http://web.bentley.edu/empl/c/ncarter/vgt/2013-02-23
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    The problem with this question is that "introductory group theory" can mean two or three (or even four) things: (1) the material on groups that generally gets intro'd to undergraduates in a first course on algebra. Usually ends with Sylow theorems, but no characters etc. (2, 3) The material that one can find in a 2nd-ish undergraduate course covering groups alone, usually finite groups and or in the 1st graduate year material on groups. (4) The material that physicists or some computer scientists need (e.g. in computer vision); this is 90% Lie groups. I assume it's not (4), but otherwise...2015-04-09

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