Al Cuoco on Wild About Math

Sol Lederman of Wild About Math interviewed Al Cuoco on his latest book Learning Modern Algebra: From Early Attempts to Prove Fermat's Last Theorem (co-author Joseph Rotman).

Listen to the interview here.

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Learning Modern Algebra: From Early Attempts to Prove Fermat's Last Theorem
by Al Cuoco and Joseph Rotman

This book is designed for prospective and practicing high school mathematics teachers, but it can serve as a text for standard abstract algebra courses as well. The presentation is organized historically: the Babylonians introduced Pythagorean triples to teach the Pythagorean theorem; these were classified by Diophantus, and eventually this led Fermat to conjecture his Last Theorem. The text shows how much of modern algebra arose in attempts to prove this; it also shows how other important themes in algebra arose from questions related to teaching. Indeed, modern algebra is a very useful tool for teachers, with deep connections to the actual content of high school mathematics, as well as to the mathematics teachers use in their profession that doesn't necessarily "end up on the blackboard."

New in the MAA eBooks Store

Order your copies today in the MAA eBooks Store.
	Learning Modern Algebra: From Early Attempts to Prove Fermat's Last Theorem by Al Cuoco and Joseph J. Rotman MAA Textbooks Series Learning Modern Algebra aligns with the CBMS Mathematical Education of Teachers-II recommendations, in both content and practice. It emphasizes rings and fields over groups, and it makes explicit connections between the ideas of abstract algebra and the mathematics used by high school teachers. It provides opportunities for prospective and practicing teachers to experience mathematics for themselves, before the formalities are developed, and it is explicit about the mathematical habits of mind that lie beneath the definitions and theorems. Learning Modern Algebra is designed for college students who want to teach mathematics in high school, but it can serve as a text for standard abstract algebra courses as well. (Print version coming soon to the MAA Store.)
	Beyond the Quadratic Formula by Ron Irving Classroom Resource Materials Series Beyond the Quadratic Formula is designed for self-study, with many results presented as exercises and some supplemented by outlines for solution. The intended audience includes in-service and prospective secondary mathematics teachers, high school students eager to go beyond the standard curriculum, undergraduates who desire an in-depth look at a topic they may have unwittingly skipped over, and the mathematically curious who wish to do some work to unlock the mysteries of this beautiful subject. (Print version coming soon to the MAA Store.)
	New Horizons in Geometry by Tom M. Apostol and Mamikon A. Mnatsakanian Dolciani Mathematical Expositions Series Apostol and Mamikon provide fresh and powerful insights into geometry that requires only a modest background in mathematics.Using new and intuitively rich methods, they give beautifully illustrated proofs of results, the majority of which are new, and frequently develop extensions of familiar theorems that are often surprising and sometimes astounding. It is mathematical exposition of the highest order.

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