Subjects / Galois theory

Best books to learn Galois theory, in order

Galois theory explains why there is no formula in radicals for the general quintic, and it does so by translating a question about polynomials into a question about groups. The translation is the whole subject, and it is not learnable cold: you need field extensions, splitting fields and enough group theory to recognise a solvable group.

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Reading paths for galois theory

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Frequently asked questions

How should I approach learning galois theory?
Galois theory explains why there is no formula in radicals for the general quintic, and it does so by translating a question about polynomials into a question about groups. The translation is the whole subject, and it is not learnable cold: you need field extensions, splitting fields and enough group theory to recognise a solvable group.
What's a good book to start galois theory with?
A strong starting point is A Book of Abstract Algebra by Charles C. Pinter. The ordered reading paths above show exactly where it fits and what to read next.

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