Some rational points on the hyperbola x^2 - 2y^2 = 1. The projection from away from (1,0) gives a bijection with the rational points on the y-axis, with the point (0,-m) going to x = (2m^2 + 1)/(2m^2 - 1), y = 2m/(2m^2 - 1). (Image by Abhinav Kumar.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Abhinav Kumar
MIT Course Number
18.781
As Taught In
Spring 2012
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
This course is an elementary introduction to number theory with no algebraic prerequisites. Topics covered include primes, congruences, quadratic reciprocity, diophantine equations, irrational numbers, continued fractions, and partitions.
