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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{ ...
coolpapa's user avatar
  • 525
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 ...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
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 ...
Mikhail Bondarko's user avatar
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 ...
T. Amdeberhan's user avatar
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 ...
guest17's user avatar
  • 253
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 ...
David Hill's user avatar
  • 1,472
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Maurizio Monge's user avatar
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?
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 ...
Charles Staats's user avatar