All Questions
Tagged with nt.number-theory teaching
11 questions
97
votes
19
answers
38k
views
Collecting proofs that finite multiplicative subgroups of fields are cyclic
I teach elementary number theory and discrete mathematics to students who come with no abstract algebra. I have found proving the key theorem that finite multiplicative subgroups of fields are cyclic ...
7
votes
1
answer
723
views
Alternate algorithms for Chinese remainder theorem
I was teaching Discrete this semester and set the students loose on a system of linear congruences. One of them came up with this solution. Say $$ x \equiv 1 \textrm{ mod } 3 $$ $$ x \equiv 3 \textrm{ ...
17
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Teaching prime number theorem in a complex analysis class for physicists
This is a question about pedagogy.
I want to sketch the proof of the prime number theorem or any other application of complex analysis to number theory in a single lecture, in a complex analysis ...
8
votes
2
answers
693
views
Seeking a combinatorial proof for a binomial identity
Let $n\geq m\geq0$ be two integers. The below binomial identity is provable by other means:
$$\sum_{j=0}^m(-1)^j\binom{n+1}j2^{m-j}
=\sum_{j=0}^m(-1)^j\binom{n-m+j}j.$$
QUESTION. Can you provide a ...
9
votes
0
answers
887
views
How many ways are there to teach class field theory?
I will soon have to teach class field theory (I do not know whether it will be local or global yet:)) to postgraduate students. I wonder, which approaches to this subject(s) exist now.
I definitely ...
8
votes
4
answers
788
views
Different derivations of the value of $\prod_{0\leq j<k<n}(\eta^k-\eta^j)$
Let $\eta=e^{\frac{2\pi i}n}$, an $n$-th root of unity. For pedagogical reasons and inspiration, I ask to see different proofs (be it elementary, sophisticated, theoretical, etc) for the following ...
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
An application of Maschke's theorem
I've been teaching some elementary representation theory to undergraduates, and want to provide applications of Maschke's theorem to complex group algebras to present in class. In particular, I'd like ...
7
votes
3
answers
3k
views
The etale fundamental group of a field
Background and motivation:
I am teaching the "covering space" section in an introductory algebraic topology course. I thought that, in the last five minutes of my last lecture, I might briefly sketch ...
2
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Best way to introduce the Chinese Remainder Theorem (to a high school student)
What do you think to be the most effective way to teach the Chinese remainder theorem to a smart high school student, which is supposed to only have a soft idea about how modular arithmetic works, and ...
12
votes
9
answers
6k
views
Topics for an Undergraduate Expository Paper in Number Theory
I am teaching an undergraduate course in number theory and am looking for topics that students could take on to write an expository paper (~10 pages). No new results are expected of them. Many of the ...
3
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Teach a course in 1 month
I need to teach an intro course on number theory in 1 month. I was just notified. Since I have never studied it, what are good books to learn it quickly?