Elementary Number Theory and Its Applications (4th Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Makes a classic subject exciting and enticing
Review: I'm impressed with how modern and interesting this book makes number theory seem. I've always liked this subject, but I've found the other texts out either too old-fashioned, boring, or too sophisticated. This book hits the mark. Highly recommended for the number theory enthusiast like me!

Rating:
Summary: The best number theory text I have seen
Review: Number theory, one of the last bastions of pure mathematics, has now succumbed to the vice of having applications. And one of those applications provides the security that maintains the integrity of most major financial transactions. Therefore, it is time for the textbooks on beginning number theory to reflect the changing environment.
The material in this work is standard fare, so the emphasis here will be on the applications, as that is what makes the book stand out. The chapter devoted to applications of congruences explains divisibility tests, perpetual calendars, scheduling round-robin tournaments, computer file storage, and error checking. A chapter on cryptology takes one from the simple substitution cipher on to public key ciphers. Another hot topic introduced is the idea of the zero-knowledge proof, where a person can prove that they have a proof, without revealing significant details. Like the "pure" material, this is presented in a clean, easy-to-follow framework. Each section ends with two sets of exercises, one to do by hand and the other a set of programming projects. The exercises are generally routine, but some of the programming problems will be beyond the capability of most. The answers to the odd non-programming exercises are given at the end of the book.
With approximately one-eighth devoted to applications, this book is on the crest of the wave of changes taking place in number theory. It is the best text for this material that I have ever seen.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.

Rating:
Summary: Number Theory for a Novice
Review: The book starts out as though you were a Freshman or a Sophomore, when your not. It's been about 17 years since I had fun with "Linear Algebra". A -fun- read for a nerd, I guess, or others that enjoy Mathematical expantion.

Rating:
Summary: Number Theory for a Novice
Review: The book starts out as though you were a Freshman or a Sophomore, when your not. It's been about 17 years since I had fun with "Linear Algebra". A -fun- read for a nerd, I guess, or others that enjoy Mathematical expantion.

Rating:
Summary: Very helpful for the Learning Undergraduate
Review: This books gives an excellent background to elementary number theory. I've found this book gives lots of examples, theorems that are helpful with interesting excercises. What I do find frustrating is that here and there the methods given are innefficient compared to what my proffesor teaches in class. As well some of the proofs are written as one giant run on sentance, and written line by line. This is VERY hard on the eyes and totally annoys me.