Math 25
Number Theory
Instructor: Carl Pomerance (carl.pomerance at dartmouth.edu)
Abstract | Classes | Tutorials | Staff | Textbook | Grading | News and current assignment | Past assignments | Exams | Honor Code
News |
The final exam is on Saturday, December 6 from 8 AM to 11 AM
in our classroom. Here are exam solutions. There is a revised policy on grading, see the explanation below.
Revised office hours for the week of December 1: |
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Abstract |
This course is an introduction to number theory. Eric Temple Bell once said that mathematics is the "queen of science" and number theory is the "queen of mathematics." Royalty aside, number theory is downright interesting, accessible, and useful. We will discuss unique factorization into primes and modular arithmetic, with applications in cryptography. Other topics will be broached as time and interest allows. Here is a tentative syllabus:
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Classes |
Room: 004 Kemeny |
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Tutorials |
There may be occasional tutorials during our x-period, Tuesdays, 12 noon - 12:50 PM, in our classroom |
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Staff |
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Textbook |
Gareth A. Jones and J. Mary Jones This book is available from Wheelock Books and elsewhere. | |
Homework |
Homework is due at the start
of the class period on the due date. Late homework is
not accepted unless there is a prior arrangement.
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Past assignments |
Homework due Friday, November 21 is posted
here.
Homework for Monday, November 10 is posted
here.
Homework for Monday, November 3 is posted
here.
Homework for Monday, October 27 is posted
here.
Homework for Monday, October 20 is posted
here.
Homework due Monday, October 13:
Homework due Monday, October 6:
Homework assignment due Monday, September 29. | |
Exams |
There will be two midterm exams, held in the evenings of Wednesday, October 15 (topics 1, 2, 3) and Wednesday, November 12 (topics 4, 5, 6) from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. I will attempt to construct the exams to be doable in 60 minutes; the extra hour is to help with possible scheduling conflicts, but I will allow you to spend the full two hours if you wish. The (cumulative) final exam will be held on Saturday, December 6, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am in our Kemeny classroom. | |
Grading |
Special grading policy: There are 4 grades that will count towards your final average, namely the two midterms, the cumulative homework grade, and the final exam. If you attend at least one of Ken Ono's lectures (preferably the one Tuesday evening, November 18, 7 pm, Kemeny 008), the lowest of these grades, call it L, will be replaced by the maximum of L+5 and (L+90)/2. After this alteration, your final average will be figured as follows: if the lowest grade is one of the midterms or the homework, it will be dropped and your final average will be the average of the remaining 3 grades, with the final exam weighted as double; if the lowest grade is the final exam, the final average will be the straight average of the 4 grades. If you go to one or both of Ono's lectures, please inform me that you did this. |
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Honor Code |
Students are encouraged to work together to do homework problems. What is important is a student's eventual understanding of homework problems, and not how that is achieved. The honor principle applies to homework in the following way. What a student turns in as a homework solution is to be his or her own understanding of how to do the problem. Students must state what sources they have consulted, with whom they have collaborated, and from whom they have received help. Students are discouraged from using solutions to problems that may be posted on the web, and as just stated, must reference them if they use them. The solutions you submit must be written by you alone. Any copying (electronic or otherwise) of another person's solutions, in whole or in part, is a violation of the Honor Code. The honor principle applies to exams as follows: Students may not give or receive assistance of any kind on an exam from any person except for the professor or someone explicitly designated by the professor to answer questions about the exam. Students may not use library or internet sources on take-home exam problems, but they may use their textbook and personal notes. If you have any questions as to whether some action would be acceptable under the Academic Honor Code, please speak to me, and I will be glad to help clarify things. It is always easier to ask beforehand than to have trouble later! |
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Disabilities |
I encourage any students with disabilities, including "invisible" disabilities such as chronic diseases and learning disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with me, which might help you with this class, either after class or during office hours. Dartmouth College has an active program to help students with disabilities, and I am happy to do whatever I can to help out, as appropriate. The Student Disabilities Coordinator, Nancy Pompian, can be reached at 6-2014 if you have any questions. Any student with a documented disability requiring academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with me by the end of the second week of the term. All discussions will remain confidential, although the Academic Skills Center may be consulted to verify the documentation of the disability and advise on an appropriate response to the need. It is important, however, that you talk to me soon, so that I can make whatever arrangements might be needed in a timely fashion. |