Theory of Numbers: A Text and Source Book of Problems [Hardcover]

Andrew Adler (Author), John E. Cloury (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0867204729 | ISBN-13: 978-0867204728 | Publication Date: March 1995 | Edition: First Edition

This text presents the principal ideas of classical number theory emphasizing the historical development of these results and the important figures who worked on them. It is intended to introduce third or fourth-year undergraduates to mathematical proofs by presenting them in a clear and simple way and by providing complete, step-by-step solutions to the problems with as much detail as students would be expected to provide themselves. This is the only book in number theory that provides detailed solutions to 800 problems, with complete references to the results used so that the student can follow each step of the argument.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 360 pages
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Pub; First Edition edition (March 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867204729
• ISBN-13: 978-0867204728
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,508,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent summary of basic number theory., October 28, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Metuchen, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Theory of Numbers: A Text and Source Book of Problems (Hardcover)

Adler and Coury's text on elementary number theory is one of the best I've ever seen; certainly for the purpose of independent reading or study. Aside from an otherwise standard flow of theorems, proofs, exercises, etc, there are approximately 800 problems all with solutions. Numerous historical and incidental notes are included as well, making this a rewarding book to read and use.

Anyone who works through the material should have no difficulty with the more challenging classics, like those of Hardy and Wright or the more recent one by Hua.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More of a study guide, insulting in scope in places, December 27, 2000

By 

D. Taylor (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Theory of Numbers: A Text and Source Book of Problems (Hardcover)

Any undergraduate textbook that says the proof of Bertrand's Postulate is beyond the scope of the text (p201) is remiss. Proofs easier than quadratic reciprocity exists. Not surprising, this was my text at a school known for engineering, not pure math.

In 400 pages you'll only go one-third the distance covered in Hardy and Wright, or Niven and Zuckerman. There is almost no emphasis on the more advanced areas of number theory, nor even a hint that such branches exist. Although many of the elementary, but unsolved conjectures are mentioned.

But wait! The book does have some merit. The book is broken into bite-size pieces - number theory for Attention Deficit Disorders. Everything is broken up into these pieces, notes, problems, further readings. Even the proofs that aren't "beyond its scope" are broken up into lemmas. This book has more "problems with solutions" than any I've seen, which would make it a good study guide for more concise texts that leave all the problems to the reader. It is these problems and solutions that fill out the bulk of the text and limit its depth of coverage. (Hardy and Wright has only 24 more pages but covers so much more).