MA/0042 (sec
001)
Introduction to Number Theory
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Professor: Mann
Course format: Lecture w/section Number of respondents: 23 Total Enrollment: 26
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“Introduction to Number Theory” provides an overview of “one of the most beautiful areas of mathematics.” It covers topics such as prime numbers, congruences, quadratic reciprocity, and sums of squares. There are no prerequisites for this course, and students agreed that only a basic knowledge of algebra and a desire to learn math are necessary for this class.
Students praised Professor Mann for his organized and clear lectures, and described him as enthusiastic, humorous, and smart. However, they sometimes found his intelligence to be problematic, as he often moved fast and assumed the class knew what he was talking about. Class members appreciated that he was available for help outside of class, sent out emails clarifying problems, and was open to feedback. Students reported that he regularly held office hours and promptly responded to students’ questions. In general, class members found Professor Mann to be personable and more than willing to help, but found his lectures to be challenging and intimidating.
The work for this course consisted of two midterms, a final, and weekly homework assignments. Students described the work as tough but fair. While some said the textbook was not entirely necessary as most of the material was covered in the lectures, the majority of students thought that the textbook was a useful supplement to the material learned in class.
Students spent from three to six hours on this course. Although the workload met their expectations, students found this class very difficult. Class members felt that the more energy and time they put into the course, the more they got out of it. Most found the course to be interesting and challenging. If you enjoy math for math’s sake, and are interested in taking something different from the standard calculus class, then “Introduction to Number Theory” might be right for you.
View MA/0042 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.
