Overview
Learn the fundamentals of number theory from former MATHCOUNTS, AHSME, and AIME perfect scorer Mathew Crawford. Topics covered in the book include primes & composites, multiples & divisors, prime factorization and its uses, base numbers, modular arithmetic, divisibility rules, linear congruences, how to develop number sense, and much more.
The text is structured to inspire the reader to explore and develop new ideas. Each section starts with problems, so the student has a chance to solve them without help before proceeding. The text then includes motivated solutions to these problems, through which concepts and curriculum of number theory are taught. Important facts and powerful problem solving approaches are highlighted throughout the text. In addition to the instructional material, the book contains hundreds of problems. Full solutions to all of the problems, not just answers, are built into the book.
This book is ideal for students who have mastered basic algebra, such as solving linear equations. Middle school students preparing for MATHCOUNTS, high school students preparing for the AMC, and other students seeking to master the fundamentals of number theory will find this book an instrumental part of their mathematics libraries. This book is used in our Introduction to Number Theory course.
Our site includes a free innovative online learning system, Alcumus with problems aligned to this textbook.