Number Theory III

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Description

Number theory is one of the oldest branches of mathematics. It is concerned with the properties of numbers, especially the properties of the integers. Historically, it was valued as the purest form of mathematics, but in fact there are many modern applications to information technology and cryptography. Number theory is a fundamentally useful course for any mathematician, but it also attracts a general audience because of its intrinsic beauty and its emphasis on problem-solving.

Objective

Content

Topics covered are: Divisibility and primes, congruences, arithmetic functions, continued fractions and rational approximation, quadratic residues, and primitive roots. Examples of diophantine equations. Modern applications to computer science, cryptography etc. Introduction to number-theoretic computer packages.

Alison Wolff Lecturer for this course

Delivery

36 hours of lectures and tutorials

Assessment

Ongoing assessment 30%, exam 70%.

Graduate attributes

Linkage past

No past linkages have been noted.

Linkage present

No present linkages have been noted.

Linkage future

This course is not recorded as prequisite for other courses.

Restrictions

None.

Recommended text

None.