Elementary Number Theory

by Underwood Dudley

Book Overview

Ideal for a first course in number theory, this lively, engaging text requires only a familiarity with elementary algebra and the properties of real numbers. Author Underwood Dudley, who has written a series of popular mathematics books, maintains that the best way to learn mathematics is by solving problems. In keeping with this philosophy, the text includes nearly 1,000 exercises and problems--some computational and some classical, many original,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 048646931X
• ISBN13: 9780486469317
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Excellent on Elementary Number Theory

Excellent text on number theory. Topic coverage is extensive: quadratic reciprocity, linear diophantine equations, Lagranges's 4-square theorem, Pell's equation and more. Proofs are very good and plenty of exercises.

Good overview to basic number theory

This is a great book for the mathematically-interested layman, non-math-major undergraduate, and people in other fields (such as computer science) who want a fairly quick read on the basics of this fascinating field. It would also serve well as a a precursor/warmup for more advanced treatments of the subject.

It is a book that has aged very well

Published in 1978, this book suffers very little from the illness of being dated. Of course, Fermat's last theorem has been proven and computers have grown much more powerful. However, those advances have little affect on the value of the book. Done well, basic number theory is timeless, and Dudley does it very well. The explanations of the fundamentals are sound and solved exercises are scattered throughout. Solutions to most of the odd numbered problems at the end of the chapters are also included. The coverage is fairly typical, so the book can still be used as the text for a course in beginning number theory. Chapter 23 contains a set of 267 additional problems, a set for each of the other chapters in the book. Solutions to most of the odd problems in this set are also included. I commend Dudley for including so many solutions; I have little time for authors of books who do not provide solutions to at least some of the exercises. If I ever teach a course in basic number theory, this is the book that I would use.

great problems

Some of the problems in this book are unlike any I've seen before, like Dudley gives a bunch of equations, you're supposed to see the pattern & he writes "guess & prove a theorem". Dudley's writing style is very informal & I thought it was a nice change from other books. Like the other person said, the book is clearly written and there are lots of examples. I had this book for a 3rd-year course, but I think a 1st or 2nd-year student could handle this book.

A lot of examples and proofs! Perfect book for a beginner.

This is the excellent book if you want to study thenumber theory but don't know where to start. The explanations are sound and CLEAR. A lot of problemsare actually solved by an author and many answers tothe exercises are given at the end of book.