Numerals and Their Peculiarities in Mathematics and Beyond
We see numbers on automobile license plates, addresses, weather reports, and, of course, on our smartphones. Yet we look at these numbers for their role as descriptors, not as an entity in and unto themselves. Each number has its own history of meaning, usage, and connotation in the larger world. The Secret Lives of Numbers takes readers on a ......
Have you ever wondered about the explicit formulas in analytic number theory? This short book provides a streamlined and rigorous approach to the explicit formulas of Riemann and von Mangoldt. The race between the prime counting function and the logarithmic integral forms a motivating thread through the narrative, which emphasizes the interplay ......
The most ubiquitous, and perhaps the most intriguing, number pattern in mathematics is the Fibonacci sequence. This title demonstrates, through illustrative diagrams, the unbelievable connections between Fibonacci numbers and natural forms (pineapples, sunflowers, and daisies are just a few examples).
This book is a concrete introduction to abstract algebra and number theory. Starting from the basics, it develops the rich parallels between the integers and polynomials, covering topics such as Unique Factorization, arithmetic over quadratic number fields, the RSA encryption scheme, and finite fields. In addition to introducing students to the ......
We all learned that the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter is called pi and that the value of this algebraic symbol is roughly 3.14. What we weren't told, though, is that behind this seemingly mundane fact is a world of mystery, which has fascinated mathematicians from ancient times to the present. Simply put, pi is weird. ......
The most ubiquitous, and perhaps the most intriguing, number pattern in mathematics is the Fibonacci sequence. In this simple pattern beginning with two ones, each succeeding number is the sum of the two numbers immediately preceding it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ad infinitum). Far from being just a curiosity, this sequence recurs in structures ......
Number Theory Through the Eyes of Sophie Germain: An Inquiry Course is an innovative textbook for an introductory number theory course. Sophie Germain (1776-1831) was largely self-taught in mathematics and, two centuries ago, in solitude, devised and implemented a plan to prove Fermat's Last Theorem. We have only recently completely understood ......
Number Theory Revealed: An Introduction presents a fresh take on congruences, power residues, quadratic residues, primes, and Diophantine equations, as well as hot topics like cryptography, factoring, and primality testing. Students are also introduced to beautiful enlightening questions like the structure of Pascal's triangle mod p, Fermat's Last ......
Ergodic theory is concerned with the measure-theoretic or statistical properties of a dynamical system. This book provides a conversational introduction to the topic, guiding the reader from the classical questions of measure theory to modern results such as the polynomial recurrence theorem. Applications to number theory and combinatorics enhance ......