Theory of Numbers

Plot of points on x-y axis with both straight and curved lines connecting plotted points.

Some rational points on the hyperbola x^2 - 2y^2 = 1. The projection from away from (1,0) gives a bijection with the rational points on the y-axis, with the point (0,-m) going to x = (2m^2 + 1)/(2m^2 - 1), y = 2m/(2m^2 - 1). (Image by Abhinav Kumar.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

18.781

As Taught In

Spring 2012

Level

Undergraduate

Cite This Course

Course Description

This course is an elementary introduction to number theory with no algebraic prerequisites. Topics covered include primes, congruences, quadratic reciprocity, diophantine equations, irrational numbers, continued fractions, and partitions. 

 


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