Introduction to number theory (Q4040089)

The book is an elementary introduction to number theory. Chapters 1 and 2 are an introduction to the basic concepts of divisibility and congruences. In Chapter 3 the theory of quadratic residues is considered including the quadratic reciprocity law. Chapter 4 deals with additive problems and diophantine equations. Chapter 5 is concerned with the representation of real numbers by decimals in general scales of g and by continued fractions. Chapter 6 is on transcendental numbers. There is a good account of the history of the subject, and one can find many remarks to the theorems of Thue-Siegel-Roth, Hermite, Lindemann-Weierstraß and Gel'fond-Schneider. Finally, in Chapter 7, the distribution of prime numbers is considered. A short introduction to the theory of the Riemann zeta-function as a function of a complex variable is given and a proof of the prime number theorem with a method due to Newman. The book gives a clear and simple introduction to the topics, and it will be welcomed by students of number theory. Also, there are many interesting remarks on the history and on the development of new branches of number theory.