Selected Chapters Of Number Theory: Special Numbers - Böcker

This book contains a complete detailed description of two classes of special numbers closely related to classical problems of the Theory of Primes. There is also extensive discussions of applied issues related to Cryptography.In Mathematics, a Mersenne number (named after Marin Mersenne, who studied them in the early 17-th century) is a number of the form Mn = 2n - 1 for positive integer n.In Mathematics, a Fermat number (named after Pierre de Fermat who first studied them) is a positive integer of the form Fn = 2k+ 1, k=2n, where n is a non-negative integer.Mersenne and Fermat numbers have many other interesting properties. Long and rich history, many arithmetic connections (with perfect numbers, with construction of regular polygons etc.), numerous modern applications, long list of open problems allow us to provide a broad perspective of the Theory of these two classes of special numbers, that can be useful and interesting for both professionals and the general audience.

This book contains a detailed presentation on the theory of two classes of special numbers, perfect numbers, and amicable numbers, as well as some of their generalizations. It also gives a large list of their properties, facts and theorems with full proofs. Perfect and amicable numbers, as well as most classes of special numbers, have many interesting properties, including numerous modern and classical applications as well as a long history connected with the names of famous mathematicians.The theory of perfect and amicable numbers is a part of pure Arithmetic, and in particular a part of Divisibility Theory and the Theory of Arithmetical Functions. Thus, for a perfect number n it holds σ(n) = 2n, where σ is the sum-of-divisors function, while for a pair of amicable numbers (n, m) it holds σ(n) = σ(m) = n + m. This is also an important part of the history of prime numbers, since the main formulas that generate perfect numbers and amicable pairs are dependent on the good choice of one or several primes of special form.Nowadays, the theory of perfect and amicable numbers contains many interesting mathematical facts and theorems, alongside many important computer algorithms needed for searching for new large elements of these two famous classes of special numbers.This book contains a list of open problems and numerous questions related to generalizations of the classical case, which provides a broad perspective on the theory of these two classes of special numbers. Perfect and Amicable Numbers can be useful and interesting to both professional and general audiences.

Stirling numbers are one of the most known classes of special numbers in Mathematics, especially in Combinatorics and Algebra. They were introduced by Scottish mathematician James Stirling (1692-1770) in his most important work, Differential Method with a Tract on Summation and Interpolation of Infinite Series (1730). Stirling numbers have a rich history; many arithmetic, number-theoretical, analytical and combinatorial connections; numerous classical properties; as well as many modern applications.This book collects much of the scattered material on the two subclasses of Stirling numbers to provide a holistic overview of the topic. From the combinatorial point of view, Stirling numbers of the second kind, S(n, k), count the number of ways to partition a set of n different objects (i.e., a given n-set) into k non-empty subsets. Stirling numbers of the first kind, s(n, k), give the number of permutations of n elements with k disjoint cycles. Both subclasses of Stirling numbers play an important role in Algebra: they form the coefficients, connecting well-known sets of polynomials.This book is suitable for students and professionals, providing a broad perspective of the theory of this class of special numbers, and many generalisations and relatives of Stirling numbers, including Bell numbers and Lah numbers. Throughout the book, readers are provided exercises to test and cement their understanding.

Catalan numbers, named after the French-Belgian mathematician Eugène Charles Catalan (1814-1894), arise in a variety of combinatorial problems. They have many interesting properties, a rich history, and numerous arithmetic, number-theoretical, analytical, and combinatorial connections, as well as a variety of classical and modern applications. Considering the long list of open problems and questions related to the classical case, its relatives (Bell numbers, Motzkin numbers, Narayana numbers, etc.) and its generalizations, this book provides a broad perspective on the theory of this class of special numbers that will be of interest to professionals, students, and a general audience.The book begins with the history of the problem, before defining the considered numerical sets. The recurrence equation, closed formula, and generating function are then presented, followed by the simplest properties and number-theoretical properties. Later chapters discuss the relationships between Catalan numbers and other special numbers, as well as their applications and open problems.