Description
Book SynopsisThis book presents a modern, geometric approach to group theory. An accessible and engaging approach to the subject, with many exercises and figures to develop geometric intuition. Ideal for advanced undergraduates, it will also interest graduate students and researchers as a gentle introduction to geometric group theory.
Trade Review'Meier has the rare ability to make complex concepts accessible to novices while simultaneously challenging the experienced. … With well-chosen illustrations and examples, Meier succeeds brilliantly in this unique approach.' SciTech Book News
'… totally accessible to undergraduate students and would be a good textbook for an advanced undergraduate course in group theory, or a graduate course in geometric group theory.' Mathematical Review
'… an excellent introduction to geometric group theory. … Carefully chosen examples are an essential part of the exposition and they really help to understand general constructions.' EMS Newsletter
Table of ContentsPreface; 1. Cayley's theorems; 2. Groups generated by reflections; 3. Groups acting on trees; 4. Baumslag-Solitar groups; 5. Words and Dehn's word problem; 6. A finitely-generated, infinite, Torsion group; 7. Regular languages and normal forms; 8. The Lamplighter group; 9. The geometry of infinite groups; 10. Thompson's group; 11. The large-scale geometry of groups; Bibliography; Index.