Introduction to Plane Algebraic Curves

*Requires only a basic knowledge of algebra, with all necessary algebraic facts collected into several appendices

* Studies algebraic curves over an algebraically closed field K and those of prime characteristic, which can be applied to coding theory and cryptography

* Covers filtered algebras, the associated graded rings and Rees rings to deduce basic facts about intersection theory of plane curves, applications of which are standard tools of computer algebra

* Examples, exercises, figures and suggestions for further study round out this fairly self-contained textbook