AlgTopReview: An informal introduction to abstract algebra

This is a review lecture on some aspects of abstract algebra useful for algebraic topology. It provides some background on fields, rings and vector spaces for those of you who have not studied these objects before, and perhaps gives an overview for those of you who have. Our treatment is descriptive and informal; we sketch the main ideas and give some key examples, starting with the basic number systems of elementary arithmetic: the natural numbers, integers and rational numbers. Probably the easiest object is that of a field, with the rational numbers as the main example, although we also give an introduction to complex rational numbers, to finite fields (a non-standard approach) and to the rational numbers adjoined with an (algebraic!) square root of two. Examples of rings include the integers, polynomials and square matrices of a certain size. Examples of vectors spaces include row vectors, also polynomials up to a certain degree, and matrices of a fixed shape only with addition and scalar multiplication. The lecture ends with three prominent constructions familiar in almost all branches of algebra: the idea of subobjects, homomorphisms, and quotient objects. In our next lecture we will have a closer look at groups, both commutative and non-commutative, which are perhaps the most important algebraic objects in algebraic topology. Thanks to Nguyen Le for filming. ************ Research Gate page: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/... Blog: http://njwildberger.com/ Online courses at openlearning.com (currently Algebraic Calculus One): https://www.openlearning.com/courses/... Please join us for an exciting new approach to one of mathematics' most important subjects! Patreon:   / njwildberger   Your support would be much appreciated. Wild Egg Maths YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriF... Insights into Mathematics Playlists:    • The Algebra of Boole, Logic and Circuit An...   (31 videos)    • Box Arithmetic: a new framework for Mathem...   (18 videos)    • Hypergroups and Diffusion Symmetry: an int...   (6 videos)    • Rational Trigonometry for maths, physics a...   (4 videos)    • Sociology and Pure Maths   (44 videos)    • Old Babylonian mathematics and Plimpton 322   (8 videos)    • Math Foundations   (226 videos)    • Math Seminars N J Wildberger   (26 videos)    • Math History (ancient to modern)   (45 videos)    • Geometric Linear Algebra   (43 videos)    • Algebraic Topology   (40 videos)    • Universal Hyperbolic Geometry   (55 videos)    • Differential Geometry   (34 videos)    • Elementary Probability and Statistics   (8 videos)    • Math Terminology for Incoming Uni Students   (9 videos)    • Famous Math Problems   ( 46 videos)    • Elementary Mathematics Explained (K-6)   (40 videos)    • Ancient Mathematics and insights of Howard...   (7 videos)    • Wild West Banking: A mathematician goes We...   (7 videos)    • Playing Go: the ancient oriental board game   (19 videos)    • Maths and Music   (21 videos)    • Year 9 Mathematics (review fractions, deci...   (10 videos)    • Wild Trig: An introduction to Rational Tri...   (94 videos) Wild Egg Maths Playlists:    • Intro to Algebraic Calculus with Box Arith...   (4 videos)    • Classical to Quantum (for Members)   (64 videos)    • Solving Polynomial Equations and the Geode...   (45 videos)    • De Casteljau Bezier curves and associated ...   (20 videos)    • Exploring q-series (for Members)   (8 videos)    • Six: A mathematical exploration   (9 videos)    • Algebraic Calculus One: a new foundation f...   (52 videos)    • Advice to prospective research mathematici...   (9 videos)