The Mathieu Groups (Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics)

The Mathieu groups have many fascinating and unusual characteristics and have been studied at length since their discovery. This book provides a unique, geometric perspective on these groups. The amalgam method is explained and used to construct M24, enabling readers to learn the method through its application to a familiar example. The same method is then used to construct, among others, the octad graph, the Witt design and the Golay code. This book also provides a systematic account of 'small groups', and serves as a useful reference for the Mathieu groups. The material is presented in such a way that it guides the reader smoothly and intuitively through the process, leading to a deeper understanding of the topic.