Disquisitiones Arithmeticae [Hardcover]

Carl F. Gauss (Author), W.C. Waterhouse (Editor), Arthur A. Clarke (Translator), J. Brinkhuis (Assistant), C. Greiter (Assistant)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0387962549 | ISBN-13: 978-0387962542 | Publication Date: April 11, 1986

English translation of standard mathematical work on theory of numbers, first published in Latin in 1801. "Among the greatest mathematical treatises of all fields and periods."--Asger Aaboe.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Latin (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Springer (April 11, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387962549
• ISBN-13: 978-0387962542
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,097,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Choose your edition carefully, March 7, 2006

By 

Graham Saint (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disquisitiones Arithmeticae (Paperback)

This is a great book. It's the place where modern number theory begins. It's also well enough written that it's enjoyable to read today.

There are two editions and you have to choose carefully. I don't know whether my review will appear on both editions or just one. The softcover is only $47. The hardcover is $129, but it is a REVISED translation. A single person, who does not seem to be have been a mathematician, made the first translation from Latin in 1965. That was revised by a team of 4 scholars in 1986.

That turns out to be important, because the original translator got a few things wrong, like the logic of a double negative. So there are some places where the first (cheaper, softcover, Yale) edition is either wrong or unclear. Many of these problems have been fixed in the second (more expensive, hardcover, Springer-Verlag) edition.

I bought the first edition and I have no regrets, but you will get extra value for your extra money if you buy the second edition.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars understandable to all, March 8, 2007

By 

G. Gecewicz - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Disquisitiones Arithmeticae (Paperback)

What blows my mind about Gauss's Disquisitiones is that it is understandable to people like me who don't have an advanced background in mathematics. You just need to move through it slowly and carefully. There is a certain joy that comes along with making the discoveries that Gauss walks you through. A book that will change your outlook on life by enhancing what you see as the basic philosophy underlying numbers and mathematics. Mathemtical magicians like Euler and Lagrange will just confuse and dazzle you with their tricks, but Gauss will give you understanding.

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book of all time, August 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Disquisitiones Arithmeticae (Hardcover)

One of the most important books in the history of human thought, and certainly among the top five in the history of mathematics, by the most important mathematician ever. I enjoy reading Gauss' own methods. Especially interesting if you study congruences, cyclotomy, etc.