Robert D Carmichael

THE THEORY of NUMBERS Robert D Carmichael

The purpose of this little book is to give the reader a convenient introduction tothe theory of numbers, one of the most extensive and most elegant disciplines inthe whole body of mathematics. The arrangement of the material is as follows: The first five chapters are devoted to the development of those elements whichare essential to any study of the subject. The sixth and last chapter is intendedto give the reader some indication of the direction of further study with a briefaccount of the nature of the material in each of the topics suggested. Thetreatment throughout is made as brief as is possible consistent with clearnessand is confined entirely to fundamental matters. This is done because it isbelieved that in this way the book may best be made to serve its purpose as anintroduction to the theory of numbers. Numerous problems are supplied throughout the text. These have beenselected with great care so as to serve as excellent exercises for the student'sintroductory training in the methods of number theory and to afford at thesame time a further collection of useful results. The exercises marked with astar are more difficult than the others; they will doubtless appeal to the beststudents