Elementary Theory of Numbers

by William J. LeVeque

Superb introduction for readers with limited formal mathematical training. Topics include Euclidean algorithm and its consequences, congruences, powers of an integer modulo m, continued fractions, Gaussian integers, Diophantine equations, more. Carefully selected problems included throughout, with answers. Only high school math needed. Bibliography.

Genres: Mathematics, Reference

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1900

About the author

William Judson LeVeque

Reviews

[Alan]

La exposición de los temas está actualmente bien. Lastimosamente ha ignorado algunos tópicos muy interesantes y sorprendentes de los números. No abarcar esto ha hecho que sea un libro aburrido.

Eh, aunque el contenido en aritmética modular, sí que ha valido la pena.

[David Doel]

From the time I first heard about Fermat's Last Theorem, I was interested in mathematics in general and number theory in particular. Over the years, I've bought several books on number theory; this is the first I have attempted to read.

The preface to this book advertises it as being accessible to high school and college students. I think not! The book relies far too much on formulas and derivations with far too little explanation. Worse yet, it fails to provide the anecdotes which would serve to attract the interest of the students. The fault lies not in the subject, but in the exposition.

If you want to get interested in number theory, this is not the book for you!