For students who have completed a standard first-year graduate course in abstract algebra, Hoffman, Jia, and Wang present some basic ideas in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry, and introduce some interesting topics of current research centered around the themes of Gr鐽ner bases, resultants, and syzygies. Characterizing this book as a supplement to the many textbooks introducing commutative algebra, they point readers toward possible future research directions. Each chapter contains a fundamentals part and an applications part, so courses can be tailored to various lengths and emphases. Distributed in North America by Stylus Publishing and Distribution. Annotation ?016 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)