An Elementary Approach to Homological Algebra

Often perceived as dry and abstract, homological algebra has important applications in a number of important areas, including ring theory, group theory, representation theory, and algebraic topology and geometry. Suitable for graduate students, this book presents the material in an easy-to-understand manner with various examples and exercises.

Homological algebra was developed as an area of study almost 50 years ago, and many books on the subject exist. However, few, if any, of these books are written at a level appropriate for students approaching the subject for the first time.

An Elementary Approach to Homological Algebra fills that void. Designed to meet the needs of beginning graduate students, it presents the material in a clear, easy-to-understand manner. Complete, detailed proofs make the material easy to follow, numerous worked examples help readers understand the concepts, and an abundance of exercises test and solidify their understanding.

Often perceived as dry and abstract, homological algebra nonetheless has important applications in many important areas. The author highlights some of these, particularly several related to group theoretic problems, in the concluding chapter. Beyond making classical homological algebra accessible to students, the author''s level of detail, while not exhaustive, also makes the book useful for self-study and as a reference for researchers.