In recent years, the discovery of new algorithms for dealing with polynomial equations, coupled with their implementation on fast inexpensive computers, has sparked a minor revolution in the study and practice of algebraic geometry. This book illustrates the many uses of algebraic geometry, highlighting some of the more recent applications of Gröbner bases and resultants. The book is written for nonspecialists and for readers with a diverse range of backgrounds. For this new edition, the authors added two new sections and a new chapter, updated the references and made numerous minor improvements throughout the text.