An Experimental Introduction to Number Theory

An Experimental Introduction to Number Theory
Author: Benjamin Hutz
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2018-04-17
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1470430975

This book presents material suitable for an undergraduate course in elementary number theory from a computational perspective. It seeks to not only introduce students to the standard topics in elementary number theory, such as prime factorization and modular arithmetic, but also to develop their ability to formulate and test precise conjectures from experimental data. Each topic is motivated by a question to be answered, followed by some experimental data, and, finally, the statement and proof of a theorem. There are numerous opportunities throughout the chapters and exercises for the students to engage in (guided) open-ended exploration. At the end of a course using this book, the students will understand how mathematics is developed from asking questions to gathering data to formulating and proving theorems. The mathematical prerequisites for this book are few. Early chapters contain topics such as integer divisibility, modular arithmetic, and applications to cryptography, while later chapters contain more specialized topics, such as Diophantine approximation, number theory of dynamical systems, and number theory with polynomials. Students of all levels will be drawn in by the patterns and relationships of number theory uncovered through data driven exploration.

Number Theory

Number Theory
Author: W.A. Coppel
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 392
Release: 2006-02-02
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9780387298511

This two-volume book is a modern introduction to the theory of numbers, emphasizing its connections with other branches of mathematics. Part A is accessible to first-year undergraduates and deals with elementary number theory. Part B is more advanced and gives the reader an idea of the scope of mathematics today. The connecting theme is the theory of numbers. By exploring its many connections with other branches a broad picture is obtained. The book contains a treasury of proofs, several of which are gems seldom seen in number theory books.

Algorithmic Algebraic Number Theory

Algorithmic Algebraic Number Theory
Author: M. Pohst
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 520
Release: 1997-09-25
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9780521596695

Now in paperback, this classic book is addresssed to all lovers of number theory. On the one hand, it gives a comprehensive introduction to constructive algebraic number theory, and is therefore especially suited as a textbook for a course on that subject. On the other hand many parts go beyond an introduction an make the user familliar with recent research in the field. For experimental number theoreticians new methods are developed and new results are obtained which are of great importance for them. Both computer scientists interested in higher arithmetic and those teaching algebraic number theory will find the book of value.

An Adventurer's Guide to Number Theory

An Adventurer's Guide to Number Theory
Author: Richard Friedberg
Publisher: Courier Corporation
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2012-07-06
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0486152693

This witty introduction to number theory deals with the properties of numbers and numbers as abstract concepts. Topics include primes, divisibility, quadratic forms, and related theorems.

Experimental Mathematics

Experimental Mathematics
Author: V. I. Arnold
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
Total Pages: 170
Release: 2015-07-14
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0821894161

One of the traditional ways mathematical ideas and even new areas of mathematics are created is from experiments. One of the best-known examples is that of the Fermat hypothesis, which was conjectured by Fermat in his attempts to find integer solutions for the famous Fermat equation. This hypothesis led to the creation of a whole field of knowledge, but it was proved only after several hundred years. This book, based on the author's lectures, presents several new directions of mathematical research. All of these directions are based on numerical experiments conducted by the author, which led to new hypotheses that currently remain open, i.e., are neither proved nor disproved. The hypotheses range from geometry and topology (statistics of plane curves and smooth functions) to combinatorics (combinatorial complexity and random permutations) to algebra and number theory (continuous fractions and Galois groups). For each subject, the author describes the problem and presents numerical results that led him to a particular conjecture. In the majority of cases there is an indication of how the readers can approach the formulated conjectures (at least by conducting more numerical experiments). Written in Arnold's unique style, the book is intended for a wide range of mathematicians, from high school students interested in exploring unusual areas of mathematics on their own, to college and graduate students, to researchers interested in gaining a new, somewhat nontraditional perspective on doing mathematics. In the interest of fostering a greater awareness and appreciation of mathematics and its connections to other disciplines and everyday life, MSRI and the AMS are publishing books in the Mathematical Circles Library series as a service to young people, their parents and teachers, and the mathematics profession. Titles in this series are co-published with the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI).

An Invitation to Modern Number Theory

An Invitation to Modern Number Theory
Author: Steven J. Miller
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 526
Release: 2020-07-21
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0691215979

In a manner accessible to beginning undergraduates, An Invitation to Modern Number Theory introduces many of the central problems, conjectures, results, and techniques of the field, such as the Riemann Hypothesis, Roth's Theorem, the Circle Method, and Random Matrix Theory. Showing how experiments are used to test conjectures and prove theorems, the book allows students to do original work on such problems, often using little more than calculus (though there are numerous remarks for those with deeper backgrounds). It shows students what number theory theorems are used for and what led to them and suggests problems for further research. Steven Miller and Ramin Takloo-Bighash introduce the problems and the computational skills required to numerically investigate them, providing background material (from probability to statistics to Fourier analysis) whenever necessary. They guide students through a variety of problems, ranging from basic number theory, cryptography, and Goldbach's Problem, to the algebraic structures of numbers and continued fractions, showing connections between these subjects and encouraging students to study them further. In addition, this is the first undergraduate book to explore Random Matrix Theory, which has recently become a powerful tool for predicting answers in number theory. Providing exercises, references to the background literature, and Web links to previous student research projects, An Invitation to Modern Number Theory can be used to teach a research seminar or a lecture class.

An Illustrated Theory of Numbers

An Illustrated Theory of Numbers
Author: Martin H. Weissman
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
Total Pages: 341
Release: 2020-09-15
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1470463717

News about this title: — Author Marty Weissman has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for 2020. (Learn more here.) — Selected as a 2018 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title — 2018 PROSE Awards Honorable Mention An Illustrated Theory of Numbers gives a comprehensive introduction to number theory, with complete proofs, worked examples, and exercises. Its exposition reflects the most recent scholarship in mathematics and its history. Almost 500 sharp illustrations accompany elegant proofs, from prime decomposition through quadratic reciprocity. Geometric and dynamical arguments provide new insights, and allow for a rigorous approach with less algebraic manipulation. The final chapters contain an extended treatment of binary quadratic forms, using Conway's topograph to solve quadratic Diophantine equations (e.g., Pell's equation) and to study reduction and the finiteness of class numbers. Data visualizations introduce the reader to open questions and cutting-edge results in analytic number theory such as the Riemann hypothesis, boundedness of prime gaps, and the class number 1 problem. Accompanying each chapter, historical notes curate primary sources and secondary scholarship to trace the development of number theory within and outside the Western tradition. Requiring only high school algebra and geometry, this text is recommended for a first course in elementary number theory. It is also suitable for mathematicians seeking a fresh perspective on an ancient subject.

Basic Category Theory

Basic Category Theory
Author: Tom Leinster
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 193
Release: 2014-07-24
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1107044243

A short introduction ideal for students learning category theory for the first time.

Number, Shape, & Symmetry

Number, Shape, & Symmetry
Author: Diane L. Herrmann
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 446
Release: 2012-10-18
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1466554649

Through a careful treatment of number theory and geometry, Number, Shape, & Symmetry: An Introduction to Number Theory, Geometry, and Group Theory helps readers understand serious mathematical ideas and proofs. Classroom-tested, the book draws on the authors’ successful work with undergraduate students at the University of Chicago, seventh to tenth grade mathematically talented students in the University of Chicago’s Young Scholars Program, and elementary public school teachers in the Seminars for Endorsement in Science and Mathematics Education (SESAME). The first half of the book focuses on number theory, beginning with the rules of arithmetic (axioms for the integers). The authors then present all the basic ideas and applications of divisibility, primes, and modular arithmetic. They also introduce the abstract notion of a group and include numerous examples. The final topics on number theory consist of rational numbers, real numbers, and ideas about infinity. Moving on to geometry, the text covers polygons and polyhedra, including the construction of regular polygons and regular polyhedra. It studies tessellation by looking at patterns in the plane, especially those made by regular polygons or sets of regular polygons. The text also determines the symmetry groups of these figures and patterns, demonstrating how groups arise in both geometry and number theory. The book is suitable for pre-service or in-service training for elementary school teachers, general education mathematics or math for liberal arts undergraduate-level courses, and enrichment activities for high school students or math clubs.