Recreations in the Theory of Numbers (Dover Math Games & Puzzles)

by Albert H. Beiler

Book Overview

Number theory proves to be a virtually inexhaustible source of intriguing puzzle problems -- interesting to beginning and advanced readers. Divisors, perfect numbers, the congruences of Gauss, scales... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486210960
• Release Date: June 1964
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

Recreational Mathematics Is Not A Contradiction In Terms

If you are curious about numbers (as I am), this is one of several books you need to have in your library. It is informative, entertaining, comprehensive and easy to read, even if you are not blessed with a mathematics degree from an institution of higher learning.This book is well-organized, beginning with topics that are easy to grasp, then going on to more complicated ideas. The contents include such terms as prime numbers, perfect numbers, amicable pairs, sociable numbers, divisors, congruences, cyclical numbers, repunits (a term the author coined) and logarithms. The book reveals many curiosities about common artcles such as squares, triangles and circles. More complex topics such as a resolution of a number into prime factors and Pell equalities are shown in a manner that is informative and easy to comprehend. The grand climax of the book is a stirring discussion of Fermat's Last Theorem.This volume remains a 'good read' despite the fact that it is almost forty years old. Although much of what it in this book has been superceded over the course of time, this boof is not obsolete. If you have any interest in numbers, buy this book if you do not already possess a copy of it.

Lots of examples, lots of tables, lots of fun

This book was my first exposure to Number Theory, coming from an engineering background. This book got me hooked. You could almost say the book takes an engineering approach to number theory: Lots of examples, lots of tables but not a lot of rigorous, long proofs. This book is set apart from most textbooks by those facts. You won't find such extensive examples and tables in any textbook (and I have about 50+ texts on Number Theory). Conversly, no self-respesting professor could present so many results without proof. But that's the fun of this book. I recommend this book over "An Adventures Guide to Number Theory" by Richard Friedberg for uninitiated.

The best writing in the field

For one reason or another, this book contains the clearest exposition of Mersenne primes and quadratic residues I have ever read. It is very heavy on results and very light on proofs, so don't expect to learn anything here, but expect to be entertained.

Deep insights into Number Theory, Well Written, Often quoted

A classic in number theory and a great introduction for the newcomer. I use it in my research on Ancient Mathematics. Richard Brown, Research Director, 1248 Institute, Charleston, SC

A true number theory classic.

Want to get started in number theory? This book shows you the way. Easy to understand, fun and loaded with math for the masses. A must-buy!