Description
Book SynopsisThis 2003 undergraduate-level introduction describes those mathematical properties of prime numbers that can be deduced with the tools of calculus. The capstone of the book is a brief presentation of the Riemann zeta function and of the significance of the Riemann Hypothesis.
Trade Review'… excellent background reading for undergraduates at any stage of their course.' Zentralblatt für Mathematik
'… this is a well-written book at the level of senior undergraduates.' Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
'The book constitutes an excellent undergraduate introduction to classical analytical number theory. The author develops the subject from the very beginning in an extremely good and readable style. Although a wide variety of topics are presented in the book, the author has successfully placed a rich historical background to each of the discussed themes, which makes the text very lively … the text contains a rich supplement of exercises, brief sketches of more advanced ideas and extensive graphical support. The book can be recommended as a very good first introductory reading for all those who are seriously interested in analytical number theory.' EMS Newsletter
'… a very readable account.' Mathematika
'The general style is user-friendly and interactive … a well presented and stimulating informal introduction to a wide range of topics …'. Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society
Table of Contents1. Sums and differences; 2. Products and divisibility; 3. Order and magnitude; 4. Counterexamples; 5. Averages; 6. Prime number theorems; 7. Series; 8. The Basel problem; 9. Euler's product; 10. The Riemann zeta function; 11. Pell's equation; 12. Elliptic curves; 13. Symmetry; 14. Explicit formula.
