Math 4400/6400
Number Theory
Call #: 17-902/37-903
Time, location: T Th, 12:30-1:45, 322 Boyd
Instructor: Patrick Corn, 527A Boyd, corn (at) math (dot) uga (dot)
edu
Office hours: T 10-11, W 1-3:30. Extra office hours will always be available upon request.
Course web page: You're looking at it.
Final exam: Tuesday, May 6, 12-3 pm.
Book: A Friendly Introduction to Number Theory (3rd edition) , by Silverman. Also we'll be borrowing liberally from Pete Clark's lecture notes (after clicking on the link, scroll down to the bottom of the page).
Course outline: Hopefully, the title of Silverman's book. Most of what we will do is known as "elementary" number theory, but we will run
into algebraic, analytic, and geometric number theory as well. Naturally we will try to stay close to the ground, as the only prerequisite will be
Math 4000 (basic abstract algebra).
Math 6400 students will be asked to write a short paper and give a brief presentation in class on their choice of topics related to the
course. Here is a list of suggestions, but they are only suggestions (please talk to me if
you're interested in something specific). They will also be given extra homework problems; these will often be more open-ended
and theoretically inclined than the rest of the homework.
Homework and tests: There will be weekly homework assignments,
posted on this webpage. There will be one midterm, on March 6.
The grading will break down as follows:
Homework 50%
Midterm 25%
Final 25%
This is the scale for 4400 students; the grading for 6400 students will also have some component related to the extra project as well.
A note on collaboration: I would like you to work on the weekly
assignments in small groups of 2-4 people each. If you like, send me an
email with your contact information and any preferences you might have,
and I will help form study groups myself. I don't want you to work alone
unless you're having no trouble with the class at all--and even if that is
the case, you will still be strongly encouraged to collaborate with your
fellow students.
Of course, group work will help you solve problems that you might not have
solved on your own. Sometimes your study partners will solve a problem
that you cannot; I merely ask that you write homework solutions in your
own words, so that it is clear that you understand what you are writing. A
less obvious benefit of group study is that the best way to test your
reasoning is to explain it to your peers.
Homework 1, due 1/24/08. Comments and solutions.
Homework 2, due 1/31/08. Comments and solutions.
Homework 3, due 2/12/08. Comments and solutions.
Homework 4, due 2/19/08. Comments and solutions.
Homework 5, due 2/28/08. Comments and solutions.
Homework 6, due 3/20/08. Comments and solutions.
Homework 7, due 4/08/08. Comments and solutions.
Homework 8, due 4/22/08.