Fermat's Last Theorem - A Genetic Introduction to Algebraic Number Theory

This book is an introduction to algebraic number theory via the famous problem of "Fermat's Last Theorem." The exposition follows the historical development of the problem, beginning with the work of Fermat and ending with Kummer's theory of "ideal" factorization, by means of which the theorem is proved for all prime exponents less than 37. The more elementary topics, such as Euler's proof of the impossibilty of x+y=z, are treated in an elementary way, and new concepts and techniques are introduced only after having been motivated by specific problems. The book also covers in detail the application of Kummer's ideal theory to quadratic integers and relates this theory to Gauss' theory of binary quadratic forms, an interesting and important connection that is not explored in any other book.

List of contents

1 Fermat.- 2 Euler.- 3 From Euler to Kummer.- 4 Kummer's theory of ideal factors.- 5 Fermat's Last Theorem for regular primes.- 6 Determination of the class number.- 7 Divisor theory for quadratic integers.- 8 Gauss's theory of binary quadratic forms.- 9 Dirichlet's class number formula.- Appendix: The natural numbers.- Answers to exercises.

Summary

Work on this book was supported in part by the James M. Vaughn, Jr., Vaughn Foundation Fund.

Product details

• Authors: Harold M. Edwards
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.01.1996
• EAN: 9780387902302
• ISBN: 978-0-387-90230-2
• No. of pages: 407
• Dimensions: 162 mm x 30 mm x 239 mm
• Illustrations: XV, 407 p.
• Series: Graduate Texts in Mathematics
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Mathematics > Probability theory, stochastic theory, mathematical statistics