First Course - Textbook discussion

[Xyzzy]

Mr. Silverman has recommended this book for us to read to learn the basics of number theory.

http://www.amazon.com/First-Course-N.../dp/0534085148

Discussion about alternative textbooks have been collected into this thread. The course itself continues here

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by R.D. Silverman

Good knowledge of high school level algebra and the ability to apply a sequence of reasoning and do proofs.

Do you have any "Creative Commons" or "Public Domain" works you could suggest we read towards this effort?

I'm serious in this question.

It seems a bit weird that people have to buy bits on atoms, and then move the atoms containing the bits (consuming energy wastefully doing so) to learn mathematics in our "modern age".

I would be interested in your take on this.

[R.D. Silverman]

Originally Posted by chalsall

Do you have any "Creative Commons" or "Public Domain" works you could suggest we read towards this effort?

I'm serious in this question.

On-line free textbooks??? Good luck!

I would be interested in your take on this.

Publishers are in business to make money by publishing books.........

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by R.D. Silverman

On-line free textbooks??? Good luck!



Publishers are in business to make money by publishing books.........

Please forgive me for this, but Jesus Flying Fucking Christ!!!

So, then, you are comfortable with basic knowledge being held hostage for profit?

[blip]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

What other math courses should one have taken (or learned) as a pre-requisite for this?

I am coming back to my previous recommendation:

Henri Cohen, A course in computational algebraic number theory, Springer GTM 138

As can be seen from the contents, this is just spot-on the material we tend to discuss here.

Google is your friend...

[Prime95]

Originally Posted by chalsall

Please forgive me for this, but Jesus Flying Fucking Christ!!!

So, then, you are comfortable with basic knowledge being held hostage for profit?

Calm down. Supermods are working on reducing the hot tempers around here.

I don't know how you inferred that RDS approves or disapproves of the situation. I read his post as stating that he knows of no such online textbook and doesn't expect publishers to make any available due to their profit motive.

Will some benevolent author someday put in the substantial effort to create such a public domain resource? We can hope so.

[blip]

http://www.shoup.net/ntb/ntb-v1.pdf
http://www.math.leidenuniv.nl/~tijdeman/cant.pdf
https://rutherglen.science.mq.edu.au...der/lnent.html
http://shell.cas.usf.edu/~wclark/elem_num_th_book.pdf

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by R.D. Silverman

One should have a basic understanding of how proofs work and how to put one together.

Obviously.

Originally Posted by R.D. Silverman

The first two chapters of the book are devoted to proving this result.

"The Book".

What revision? New or old testament?

Seriously, I find it very weird that we have to pay money to learn.

[blip]

Originally Posted by chalsall

Seriously, I find it very weird that we have to pay money to learn.

That's why I provided the links to some free resources above.

[R.D. Silverman]

Originally Posted by chalsall

Obviously.



"The Book".

What revision? New or old testament?

Seriously, I find it very weird that we have to pay money to learn.

I am beginning to think that you are being a deliberate ASSHOLE. The book was
suggested/specified in the very first post in this thread.

Textbooks cost money. Colleges cost money. Even public schools cost money (via taxes).

Where on Earth would anyone ever get the idea that education has no costs?? What have you
been smoking?

[blip]

Originally Posted by R.D. Silverman

Where on Earth would anyone ever get the idea that education has no costs?? What have you
been smoking?

Come and visit Europe: http://europe.graduateshotline.com/free-education.html