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What is the difference between a math text book and a math reference book?
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I saw the list of books suggested by my college. There are two categories, one for text book and the other for reference book. For abstract algebra, they have Dummit and Foote, Abstract Algebra as textbook, and Herstein, Topics in Algebra as reference book. Both seem to be similar, but, don't know, the difference in how they were categorised.
reference-request book-recommendation
asked Jul 21 at 11:40
Immortal Player
364521
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up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I saw the list of books suggested by my college. There are two categories, one for text book and the other for reference book. For abstract algebra, they have Dummit and Foote, Abstract Algebra as textbook, and Herstein, Topics in Algebra as reference book. Both seem to be similar, but, don't know, the difference in how they were categorised.
reference-request book-recommendation
asked Jul 21 at 11:40
Immortal Player
364521
Maybe the text book defines the curriculum and the reference book is the recommended book for those who want more material?
– Arthur
Jul 21 at 11:42
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I saw the list of books suggested by my college. There are two categories, one for text book and the other for reference book. For abstract algebra, they have Dummit and Foote, Abstract Algebra as textbook, and Herstein, Topics in Algebra as reference book. Both seem to be similar, but, don't know, the difference in how they were categorised.
reference-request book-recommendation
asked Jul 21 at 11:40
Immortal Player
364521
I saw the list of books suggested by my college. There are two categories, one for text book and the other for reference book. For abstract algebra, they have Dummit and Foote, Abstract Algebra as textbook, and Herstein, Topics in Algebra as reference book. Both seem to be similar, but, don't know, the difference in how they were categorised.
reference-request book-recommendation
asked Jul 21 at 11:40
Immortal Player
364521
asked Jul 21 at 11:40
Immortal Player
364521
asked Jul 21 at 11:40
Immortal Player
364521
asked Jul 21 at 11:40
Immortal Player
364521
364521
Maybe the text book defines the curriculum and the reference book is the recommended book for those who want more material?
– Arthur
Jul 21 at 11:42
add a comment |Â
Maybe the text book defines the curriculum and the reference book is the recommended book for those who want more material?
– Arthur
Jul 21 at 11:42
Maybe the text book defines the curriculum and the reference book is the recommended book for those who want more material?
– Arthur
Jul 21 at 11:42
Maybe the text book defines the curriculum and the reference book is the recommended book for those who want more material?
– Arthur
Jul 21 at 11:42
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
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In general terms, a textbook is a book you can read from the beginning to learn a new subject - perhaps on your own, perhaps in a course. Not necessarily quite that linear, since you will need to double back to reread and refresh. When you're done with the book and the course (do the exercises!) you will more or less know the material.
If you need to check some particular definition or theorem a textbook might not be the best place to look, since the idea may be spread out over several pages or sections. A reference book is likely to be more compact. (Sometimes wikipedia is a good "reference book" for things you already know something about.)
That said, both the books you ask about are textbooks, designed for an abstract algebra class. Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote. Your college is suggesting that the course will rely on D&F but that you may be able to learn a little more from a different perspective from Herstein. They may also be suggesting that you should buy D&F but consult Herstein in the library.
answered Jul 21 at 11:49
Ethan Bolker
35.7k54199
"Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote." - Precise expression of experience. Will get into Herstein too. Thank you.
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:56
To know the difference clearly in the context, can you suggest a abstract algebra reference book?
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:58
As I say in my answer, wikipedia is a good reference book. For example, early in abstract algebra you will learn Lagrange's theorem. I don't know where it is in either of those books, but here is a quick overview: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange%27s_theorem_(group_theory)
– Ethan Bolker
Jul 21 at 12:01
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
In general terms, a textbook is a book you can read from the beginning to learn a new subject - perhaps on your own, perhaps in a course. Not necessarily quite that linear, since you will need to double back to reread and refresh. When you're done with the book and the course (do the exercises!) you will more or less know the material.
If you need to check some particular definition or theorem a textbook might not be the best place to look, since the idea may be spread out over several pages or sections. A reference book is likely to be more compact. (Sometimes wikipedia is a good "reference book" for things you already know something about.)
That said, both the books you ask about are textbooks, designed for an abstract algebra class. Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote. Your college is suggesting that the course will rely on D&F but that you may be able to learn a little more from a different perspective from Herstein. They may also be suggesting that you should buy D&F but consult Herstein in the library.
answered Jul 21 at 11:49
Ethan Bolker
35.7k54199
"Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote." - Precise expression of experience. Will get into Herstein too. Thank you.
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:56
To know the difference clearly in the context, can you suggest a abstract algebra reference book?
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:58
As I say in my answer, wikipedia is a good reference book. For example, early in abstract algebra you will learn Lagrange's theorem. I don't know where it is in either of those books, but here is a quick overview: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange%27s_theorem_(group_theory)
– Ethan Bolker
Jul 21 at 12:01
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
In general terms, a textbook is a book you can read from the beginning to learn a new subject - perhaps on your own, perhaps in a course. Not necessarily quite that linear, since you will need to double back to reread and refresh. When you're done with the book and the course (do the exercises!) you will more or less know the material.
If you need to check some particular definition or theorem a textbook might not be the best place to look, since the idea may be spread out over several pages or sections. A reference book is likely to be more compact. (Sometimes wikipedia is a good "reference book" for things you already know something about.)
That said, both the books you ask about are textbooks, designed for an abstract algebra class. Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote. Your college is suggesting that the course will rely on D&F but that you may be able to learn a little more from a different perspective from Herstein. They may also be suggesting that you should buy D&F but consult Herstein in the library.
answered Jul 21 at 11:49
Ethan Bolker
35.7k54199
"Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote." - Precise expression of experience. Will get into Herstein too. Thank you.
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:56
To know the difference clearly in the context, can you suggest a abstract algebra reference book?
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:58
As I say in my answer, wikipedia is a good reference book. For example, early in abstract algebra you will learn Lagrange's theorem. I don't know where it is in either of those books, but here is a quick overview: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange%27s_theorem_(group_theory)
– Ethan Bolker
Jul 21 at 12:01
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
In general terms, a textbook is a book you can read from the beginning to learn a new subject - perhaps on your own, perhaps in a course. Not necessarily quite that linear, since you will need to double back to reread and refresh. When you're done with the book and the course (do the exercises!) you will more or less know the material.
If you need to check some particular definition or theorem a textbook might not be the best place to look, since the idea may be spread out over several pages or sections. A reference book is likely to be more compact. (Sometimes wikipedia is a good "reference book" for things you already know something about.)
That said, both the books you ask about are textbooks, designed for an abstract algebra class. Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote. Your college is suggesting that the course will rely on D&F but that you may be able to learn a little more from a different perspective from Herstein. They may also be suggesting that you should buy D&F but consult Herstein in the library.
answered Jul 21 at 11:49
Ethan Bolker
35.7k54199
In general terms, a textbook is a book you can read from the beginning to learn a new subject - perhaps on your own, perhaps in a course. Not necessarily quite that linear, since you will need to double back to reread and refresh. When you're done with the book and the course (do the exercises!) you will more or less know the material.
If you need to check some particular definition or theorem a textbook might not be the best place to look, since the idea may be spread out over several pages or sections. A reference book is likely to be more compact. (Sometimes wikipedia is a good "reference book" for things you already know something about.)
That said, both the books you ask about are textbooks, designed for an abstract algebra class. Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote. Your college is suggesting that the course will rely on D&F but that you may be able to learn a little more from a different perspective from Herstein. They may also be suggesting that you should buy D&F but consult Herstein in the library.
answered Jul 21 at 11:49
Ethan Bolker
35.7k54199
answered Jul 21 at 11:49
Ethan Bolker
35.7k54199
answered Jul 21 at 11:49
Ethan Bolker
35.7k54199
answered Jul 21 at 11:49
Ethan Bolker
35.7k54199
35.7k54199
"Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote." - Precise expression of experience. Will get into Herstein too. Thank you.
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:56
To know the difference clearly in the context, can you suggest a abstract algebra reference book?
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:58
As I say in my answer, wikipedia is a good reference book. For example, early in abstract algebra you will learn Lagrange's theorem. I don't know where it is in either of those books, but here is a quick overview: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange%27s_theorem_(group_theory)
– Ethan Bolker
Jul 21 at 12:01
add a comment |Â
"Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote." - Precise expression of experience. Will get into Herstein too. Thank you.
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:56
To know the difference clearly in the context, can you suggest a abstract algebra reference book?
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:58
As I say in my answer, wikipedia is a good reference book. For example, early in abstract algebra you will learn Lagrange's theorem. I don't know where it is in either of those books, but here is a quick overview: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange%27s_theorem_(group_theory)
– Ethan Bolker
Jul 21 at 12:01
"Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote." - Precise expression of experience. Will get into Herstein too. Thank you.
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:56
"Herstein is harder/deeper/faster than Dummit and Foote." - Precise expression of experience. Will get into Herstein too. Thank you.
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:56
To know the difference clearly in the context, can you suggest a abstract algebra reference book?
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:58
To know the difference clearly in the context, can you suggest a abstract algebra reference book?
– Immortal Player
Jul 21 at 11:58
As I say in my answer, wikipedia is a good reference book. For example, early in abstract algebra you will learn Lagrange's theorem. I don't know where it is in either of those books, but here is a quick overview: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange%27s_theorem_(group_theory)
– Ethan Bolker
Jul 21 at 12:01
As I say in my answer, wikipedia is a good reference book. For example, early in abstract algebra you will learn Lagrange's theorem. I don't know where it is in either of those books, but here is a quick overview: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange%27s_theorem_(group_theory)
– Ethan Bolker
Jul 21 at 12:01
add a comment |Â
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Maybe the text book defines the curriculum and the reference book is the recommended book for those who want more material?
– Arthur
Jul 21 at 11:42