RATIONAL QUADRATIC FORMS

Book Details

• Author: Cassels, J. W. S.

• Brand: Dover

• Edition: 2008

• Binding: Paperback

• Number of Pages: 413

• Release Date: 08-08-2008

• EAN: 9780486466705

• Package Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.0 inches

• Languages: English

About The Book
Introduction to Quadratic Forms by J. W. S. Cassels provides an excellent, accessible introduction to the classical subject of quadratic forms over rational numbers and rational integers, while also covering recent developments in the field. Written by a Professor Emeritus at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, this book offers a self-contained approach that develops the necessary prerequisites to understand quadratic forms in depth.

The text covers a wide range of important topics, including:

• The theory of quadratic forms over local fields

• Forms with integral coefficients

• Genera and spinor genera

• Reduction theory for definite forms

• Gauss' composition theory

The final chapter explores how to formulate proofs independently of Dirichlet's theorems related to the existence of primes in arithmetic progressions. In addition, several helpful appendices provide detailed explanations on class numbers, Siegel’s formulas, Tamagawa numbers, and other specialized topics.

With many exercises and hints at the end of each chapter, this book also includes notes with historical context and references to the literature. It will be particularly valuable for specialists in the field, but it is also an excellent resource for students and scholars seeking to understand quadratic forms and their many applications.