Fundamentals of Number Theory (Dover Books on Mathematics)

William J. LeVeque

ISBN 10: 0486689069 / ISBN 13: 9780486689067

Published by Dover Publications, 1996

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 9780486689067-4-2

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Fundamentals of Number Theory (Dover Books on Mathematics)
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0486689069
• ISBN 13: 9780486689067
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Very good

About this title

Synopsis

This excellent textbook introduces the basics of number theory, incorporating the language of abstract algebra. A knowledge of such algebraic concepts as group, ring, field, and domain is not assumed, however; all terms are defined and examples are given — making the book self-contained in this respect.
The author begins with an introductory chapter on number theory and its early history. Subsequent chapters deal with unique factorization and the GCD, quadratic residues, number-theoretic functions and the distribution of primes, sums of squares, quadratic equations and quadratic fields, diophantine approximation, and more. Included are discussions of topics not always found in introductory texts: factorization and primality of large integers, p-adic numbers, algebraic number fields, Brun's theorem on twin primes, and the transcendence of e, to mention a few.
Readers will find a substantial number of well-chosen problems, along with many notes and bibliographical references selected for readability and relevance. Five helpful appendixes — containing such study aids as a factor table, computer-plotted graphs, a table of indices, the Greek alphabet, and a list of symbols — and a bibliography round out this well-written text, which is directed toward undergraduate majors and beginning graduate students in mathematics. No post-calculus prerequisite is assumed. 1977 edition.