Gateway to number theory: applying the power of algebraic curves

By:

Kendig, Keith

Series: Dolciani mathematical expositions, Vol. 57Publication details: MAA Press, 2021. Providence, Rhode Island: Description: xv, 207p.; pbk; 23cmISBN:

9781470456221

Subject(s):

DDC classification:

512.74 KEN

Summary: Can you find all the integers a, b, c satisfying 2a2+3b2=5c2? Looks simple, and there are in fact a number of easy solutions. But most of them turn out to be anything but obvious! There are infinitely many possibilities, and as any computer will tell you, each of a, b, c will usually be large. So the challenge remains … Find all integers a, b, c satisfying 2a2+3b2=5c2. A major advance in number theory means this book can give an easy answer to this and countless similar questions. The idea behind the approach is transforming a degree-two equation in integer variables a, b, c into a plane curve defined by a polynomial. Working with the curve makes obtaining solutions far easier, and the geometric solutions then get translated back into integers. This method morphs hard problems into routine ones and typically requires no more than high school math. (The complete solution to 2a2+3b2=5c2 is included in the book.) In addition to equations of degree two, the book addresses degree-three equations—a branch of number theory that is today something of a cottage industry, and these problems translate into “elliptic curves”. This important part of the book includes many pictures along with the exposition, making the material meaningful and easy to grasp. This book will fit nicely into an introductory course on number theory. In addition, the many solved examples, illustrations, and exercises make self-studying the book an option for students, thus becoming a natural candidate for a capstone course. https://bookstore.ams.org/dol-57

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Holdings
Item type	Current library	Collection	Call number	Copy number	Status	Date due	Barcode
Books	IIT Gandhinagar	General	512.74 KEN (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available		031895

Includes illustrations, index and references

Can you find all the integers a, b, c satisfying 2a2+3b2=5c2? Looks simple, and there are in fact a number of easy solutions. But most of them turn out to be anything but obvious! There are infinitely many possibilities, and as any computer will tell you, each of a, b, c will usually be large. So the challenge remains … Find all integers a, b, c satisfying 2a2+3b2=5c2. A major advance in number theory means this book can give an easy answer to this and countless similar questions. The idea behind the approach is transforming a degree-two equation in integer variables a, b, c into a plane curve defined by a polynomial. Working with the curve makes obtaining solutions far easier, and the geometric solutions then get translated back into integers. This method morphs hard problems into routine ones and typically requires no more than high school math. (The complete solution to 2a2+3b2=5c2 is included in the book.) In addition to equations of degree two, the book addresses degree-three equations—a branch of number theory that is today something of a cottage industry, and these problems translate into “elliptic curves”. This important part of the book includes many pictures along with the exposition, making the material meaningful and easy to grasp. This book will fit nicely into an introductory course on number theory. In addition, the many solved examples, illustrations, and exercises make self-studying the book an option for students, thus becoming a natural candidate for a capstone course.

https://bookstore.ams.org/dol-57

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