Backgrounds of Arithmetic and Geometry


Book Description

The book is an introduction to the foundations of Mathematics. The use of the constructive method in Arithmetic and the axiomatic method in Geometry gives a unitary understanding of the backgrounds of geometry, of its development and of its organic link with the study of real numbers and algebraic structures.




An Invitation to Arithmetic Geometry


Book Description

Extremely carefully written, masterfully thought out, and skillfully arranged introduction … to the arithmetic of algebraic curves, on the one hand, and to the algebro-geometric aspects of number theory, on the other hand. … an excellent guide for beginners in arithmetic geometry, just as an interesting reference and methodical inspiration for teachers of the subject … a highly welcome addition to the existing literature. —Zentralblatt MATH The interaction between number theory and algebraic geometry has been especially fruitful. In this volume, the author gives a unified presentation of some of the basic tools and concepts in number theory, commutative algebra, and algebraic geometry, and for the first time in a book at this level, brings out the deep analogies between them. The geometric viewpoint is stressed throughout the book. Extensive examples are given to illustrate each new concept, and many interesting exercises are given at the end of each chapter. Most of the important results in the one-dimensional case are proved, including Bombieri's proof of the Riemann Hypothesis for curves over a finite field. While the book is not intended to be an introduction to schemes, the author indicates how many of the geometric notions introduced in the book relate to schemes, which will aid the reader who goes to the next level of this rich subject.




Modular Forms and Fermat’s Last Theorem


Book Description

This volume contains the expanded lectures given at a conference on number theory and arithmetic geometry held at Boston University. It introduces and explains the many ideas and techniques used by Wiles, and to explain how his result can be combined with Ribets theorem and ideas of Frey and Serre to prove Fermats Last Theorem. The book begins with an overview of the complete proof, followed by several introductory chapters surveying the basic theory of elliptic curves, modular functions and curves, Galois cohomology, and finite group schemes. Representation theory, which lies at the core of the proof, is dealt with in a chapter on automorphic representations and the Langlands-Tunnell theorem, and this is followed by in-depth discussions of Serres conjectures, Galois deformations, universal deformation rings, Hecke algebras, and complete intersections. The book concludes by looking both forward and backward, reflecting on the history of the problem, while placing Wiles'theorem into a more general Diophantine context suggesting future applications. Students and professional mathematicians alike will find this an indispensable resource.




Foundations of Arithmetic Differential Geometry


Book Description

The aim of this book is to introduce and develop an arithmetic analogue of classical differential geometry. In this new geometry the ring of integers plays the role of a ring of functions on an infinite dimensional manifold. The role of coordinate functions on this manifold is played by the prime numbers. The role of partial derivatives of functions with respect to the coordinates is played by the Fermat quotients of integers with respect to the primes. The role of metrics is played by symmetric matrices with integer coefficients. The role of connections (respectively curvature) attached to metrics is played by certain adelic (respectively global) objects attached to the corresponding matrices. One of the main conclusions of the theory is that the spectrum of the integers is “intrinsically curved”; the study of this curvature is then the main task of the theory. The book follows, and builds upon, a series of recent research papers. A significant part of the material has never been published before.




Arithmetic Geometry


Book Description

This volume is the result of a (mainly) instructional conference on arithmetic geometry, held from July 30 through August 10, 1984 at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. This volume contains expanded versions of almost all the instructional lectures given during the conference. In addition to these expository lectures, this volume contains a translation into English of Falt ings' seminal paper which provided the inspiration for the conference. We thank Professor Faltings for his permission to publish the translation and Edward Shipz who did the translation. We thank all the people who spoke at the Storrs conference, both for helping to make it a successful meeting and enabling us to publish this volume. We would especially like to thank David Rohrlich, who delivered the lectures on height functions (Chapter VI) when the second editor was unavoidably detained. In addition to the editors, Michael Artin and John Tate served on the organizing committee for the conference and much of the success of the conference was due to them-our thanks go to them for their assistance. Finally, the conference was only made possible through generous grants from the Vaughn Foundation and the National Science Foundation.




Lectures on the Philosophy of Mathematics


Book Description

An introduction to the philosophy of mathematics grounded in mathematics and motivated by mathematical inquiry and practice. In this book, Joel David Hamkins offers an introduction to the philosophy of mathematics that is grounded in mathematics and motivated by mathematical inquiry and practice. He treats philosophical issues as they arise organically in mathematics, discussing such topics as platonism, realism, logicism, structuralism, formalism, infinity, and intuitionism in mathematical contexts. He organizes the book by mathematical themes--numbers, rigor, geometry, proof, computability, incompleteness, and set theory--that give rise again and again to philosophical considerations.




Algebraic Geometry


Book Description

An introduction to abstract algebraic geometry, with the only prerequisites being results from commutative algebra, which are stated as needed, and some elementary topology. More than 400 exercises distributed throughout the book offer specific examples as well as more specialised topics not treated in the main text, while three appendices present brief accounts of some areas of current research. This book can thus be used as textbook for an introductory course in algebraic geometry following a basic graduate course in algebra. Robin Hartshorne studied algebraic geometry with Oscar Zariski and David Mumford at Harvard, and with J.-P. Serre and A. Grothendieck in Paris. He is the author of "Residues and Duality", "Foundations of Projective Geometry", "Ample Subvarieties of Algebraic Varieties", and numerous research titles.




Algebraic Geometry and Arithmetic Curves


Book Description

This book is a general introduction to the theory of schemes, followed by applications to arithmetic surfaces and to the theory of reduction of algebraic curves. The first part introduces basic objects such as schemes, morphisms, base change, local properties (normality, regularity, Zariski's Main Theorem). This is followed by the more global aspect: coherent sheaves and a finiteness theorem for their cohomology groups. Then follows a chapter on sheaves of differentials, dualizing sheaves, and Grothendieck's duality theory. The first part ends with the theorem of Riemann-Roch and its application to the study of smooth projective curves over a field. Singular curves are treated through a detailed study of the Picard group. The second part starts with blowing-ups and desingularisation (embedded or not) of fibered surfaces over a Dedekind ring that leads on to intersection theory on arithmetic surfaces. Castelnuovo's criterion is proved and also the existence of the minimal regular model. This leads to the study of reduction of algebraic curves. The case of elliptic curves is studied in detail. The book concludes with the funadmental theorem of stable reduction of Deligne-Mumford. The book is essentially self-contained, including the necessary material on commutative algebra. The prerequisites are therefore few, and the book should suit a graduate student. It contains many examples and nearly 600 exercises.




The Four Pillars of Geometry


Book Description

This book is unique in that it looks at geometry from 4 different viewpoints - Euclid-style axioms, linear algebra, projective geometry, and groups and their invariants Approach makes the subject accessible to readers of all mathematical tastes, from the visual to the algebraic Abundantly supplemented with figures and exercises




Notes on Geometry and Arithmetic


Book Description

This English translation of Daniel Coray’s original French textbook Notes de géométrie et d’arithmétique introduces students to Diophantine geometry. It engages the reader with concrete and interesting problems using the language of classical geometry, setting aside all but the most essential ideas from algebraic geometry and commutative algebra. Readers are invited to discover rational points on varieties through an appealing ‘hands on’ approach that offers a pathway toward active research in arithmetic geometry. Along the way, the reader encounters the state of the art on solving certain classes of polynomial equations with beautiful geometric realizations, and travels a unique ascent towards variations on the Hasse Principle. Highlighting the importance of Diophantus of Alexandria as a precursor to the study of arithmetic over the rational numbers, this textbook introduces basic notions with an emphasis on Hilbert’s Nullstellensatz over an arbitrary field. A digression on Euclidian rings is followed by a thorough study of the arithmetic theory of cubic surfaces. Subsequent chapters are devoted to p-adic fields, the Hasse principle, and the subtle notion of Diophantine dimension of fields. All chapters contain exercises, with hints or complete solutions. Notes on Geometry and Arithmetic will appeal to a wide readership, ranging from graduate students through to researchers. Assuming only a basic background in abstract algebra and number theory, the text uses Diophantine questions to motivate readers seeking an accessible pathway into arithmetic geometry.