This work treats an introduction to commutative ring theory and algebraic plane curves, requiring of the reader only a basic knowledge of algebra, with all of the algebraic facts collected into several appendices that can be easily referred to, as needed. Kunz's proven conception of teaching topics in commutative algebra together with their applications to algebraic geometry makes this book significantly different from others on plane algebraic curves. Examples, exercises, figures, and suggestions for further study round out this fairly self-contained textbook.

Employs proven conception of teaching topics in commutative algebra through a focus on their applications to algebraic geometry, a significant departure from other works on plane algebraic curves in which the topological-analytic aspects are stressed Requires only a basic knowledge of algebra, with all necessary algebraic facts collected into several appendices Examples, exercises, figures and suggestions for further study round out this fairly self-contained textbook

Inhalt
Plane Algebraic Curves.- Ane Algebraic Curves.- Projective Algebraic Curves.- The Coordinate Ring of an Algebraic Curve and the Intersections of Two Curves.- Rational Functions on Algebraic Curves.- Intersection Multiplicity and Intersection Cycle of Two Curves.- Regular and Singular Points of Algebraic Curves. Tangents.- More on Intersection Theory. Applications.- Rational Maps. Parametric Representations of Curves.- Polars and Hessians of Algebraic Curves.- Elliptic Curves.- Residue Calculus.- Applications of Residue Theory to Curves.- The Riemann-Roch Theorem.- The Genus of an Algebraic Curve and of Its Function Field.- The Canonical Divisor Class.- The Branches of a Curve Singularity.- Conductor and Value Semigroup of a Curve Singularity.