Abstract algebra is the set of advanced topics of algebra that deal with abstract algebraic structures

rather than the usual number systems. The most important of these structures are groups, rings, and
fields. Important branches of abstract algebra are commutative algebra, representation theory, and
homological algebra.

Linear algebra, elementary number theory, and discrete mathematics are sometimes considered
branches of abstract algebra. Ash (1998) includes the following areas in his definition of abstract algebra:
logic and foundations, counting, elementary number theory, informal set theory, linear algebra, and the
theory of linear operators.