Algebraic Number Theory (Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications) - Hardcover

Mollin, Richard A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0849339898 ISBN 13: 9780849339899

Publisher: CRC Press, 1999

Synopsis

From its history as an elegant but abstract area of mathematics, algebraic number theory now takes its place as a useful and accessible study with important real-world practicality. Unique among algebraic number theory texts, this important work offers a wealth of applications to cryptography, including factoring, primality-testing, and public-key cryptosystems.

A follow-up to Dr. Mollin's popular Fundamental Number Theory with Applications, Algebraic Number Theory provides a global approach to the subject that selectively avoids local theory. Instead, it carefully leads the student through each topic from the level of the algebraic integer, to the arithmetic of number fields, to ideal theory, and closes with reciprocity laws. In each chapter the author includes a section on a cryptographic application of the ideas presented, effectively demonstrating the pragmatic side of theory.

In this way Algebraic Number Theory provides a comprehensible yet thorough treatment of the material. Written for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in algebraic number theory, this one-of-a-kind text brings the subject matter to life with historical background and real-world practicality. It easily serves as the basis for a range of courses, from bare-bones algebraic number theory, to a course rich with cryptography applications, to a course using the basic theory to prove Fermat's Last Theorem for regular primes. Its offering of over 430 exercises with odd-numbered solutions provided in the back of the book and, even-numbered solutions available a separate manual makes this the ideal text for both students and instructors.

About this title

About the Author

Richard A. Mollin is a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Calgary. In the past twenty-five years, Dr. Mollin has founded the Canadian Number Theory Association and has been awarded six Killam Resident Fellowships. He has written more than 200 publications, including Advanced Number Theory with Applications (CRC Press, August 2009), Fundamental Number Theory with Applications, Second Edition (CRC Press, February 2008), An Introduction to Cryptography, Second Edition (CRC Press, September 2006), Codes: The Guide to Secrecy from Ancient to Modern Times (CRC Press, May 2005), and RSA and Public-Key Cryptography (CRC Press, November 2002).

Review

This is a remarkable book that will be a valuable reference for many people, including me. The book shows great care in preparation, and the ample details and motivation will be appreciated by lots of students. The solid punches at the end of each chapter will be appreciated by everybody. It deserves success with many adoptions as a text.
-Irving Kaplansky, Mathematical Sciences Research Institute at Berkeley

An extremely well-written and clear presentation of algebraic number theory suitable for beginning graduate students. The many exercises, applications, and references are a very valuable feature of the book.
-Kenneth Williams, Carelton University at Ottawa, Canada

This is a unique book that will be influential.
-John Brillhart, University of Arizona at Tucson

Edition details

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0849339898
• ISBN 13: 9780849339899
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 504