Fundamentals of Number Theory (Dover Books on Mathematics) [Paperback]

William J. LeVeque (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0486689069 | ISBN-13: 978-0486689067

Basic treatment, incorporating language of abstract algebra and a history of the discipline. Topics include 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, more. Includes many problems. Bibliography. Advanced undergraduate-beginning graduate-level. 1977 edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (February 7, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486689069
• ISBN-13: 978-0486689067
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #742,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for self teaching, July 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Fundamentals of Number Theory (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

I am currently working through this book, and I really like the format, which is usually a small, digestible chapter followed by a set of exercises (usually 10 or so). Quite a wide variety of topics are covered including congruences, primitive roots, analysis of the number theoretic functions (e.g., the number of primes below x), and a little on diophantine approximations and continued fractions. Nothing post-calculus is used in the book except for some algebraic structures such as fields and rings, however, they are fully explained at the beginning of the book. (And some previous acquaintance with these would probably be good.) The exercises are especially good, being not too easy and not too hard. In response to the review below, to actually understand math like this you must be willing to do some work yourself. If you are looking to sit back in your easy chair and be entertained, then you should buy a book on the history of number theory, not a textbook.

23 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed and interesting., September 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fundamentals of Number Theory (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

Although by no means an easy read, this book is very detailed and informative. Math phobic people need not apply, however, because it gets very technical after the first chapter. I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone (probably not for pre-college people) who enjoys a challenging read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommend this book, July 4, 2010

By 

Indikos (Fairfax, Va) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fundamentals of Number Theory (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

This book on Number Theory is pitched at the undergraduate level. It is well written and organized. A nice feature is historical notes on past number theorists.