This book takes the reader on a journey from familiar high school mathematics to undergraduate algebra and number theory. The journey starts with the basic idea that new number systems arise from solving different equations, leading to (abstract) algebra. Along this journey, the reader will be exposed to important ideas of mathematics, and will learn a little about how mathematics is really done.Starting at an elementary level, the book gradually eases the reader into the complexities of higher mathematics; in particular, the formal structure of mathematical writing (definitions, theorems and proofs) is introduced in simple terms. The book covers a range of topics, from the very foundations (numbers, set theory) to basic abstract algebra (groups, rings, fields), driven throughout by the need to understand concrete equations and problems, such as determining which numbers are sums of squares. Some topics usually reserved for a more advanced audience, such as Eisenstein integers or quadratic reciprocity, are lucidly presented in an accessible way. The book also introduces the reader to open source software for computations, to enhance understanding of the material and nurture basic programming skills. For the more adventurous, a number of Outlooks included in the text offer a glimpse of possible mathematical excursions. This book supports readers in transition from high school to university mathematics, and will also benefit university students keen to explore the beginnings of algebraic number theory. It can be read either on its own or as a supporting text for first courses in algebra or number theory, and can also be used for a topics course on Diophantine equations.

This text is a rigorous introduction to ergodic theory, developing the machinery of conditional measures and expectations, mixing, and recurrence.

Beginning by developing the basics of ergodic theory and progressing to describe some recent applications to number theory, this book goes beyond the standard texts in this topic. Applications include Weyl's polynomial equidistribution theorem, the ergodic proof of Szemeredi's theorem, the connection between the continued fraction map and the modular surface, and a proof of the equidistribution of horocycle orbits.

"Ergodic Theory with a view towards Number Theory" will appeal to mathematicians with some standard background in measure theory and functional analysis. No background in ergodic theory or Lie theory is assumed, and a number of exercises and hints to problems are included, making this the perfect companion for graduate students and researchers in ergodic theory, homogenous dynamics or number theory.

Dieses Buch bietet eine erste Einfuhrung in die mathematische Theorie der dynamischen Systeme, die fur Studierende des letzten Studienjahres des Bachelor Studiums und fur das Master Studium geeignet ist. Aufbauend auf den Grundbegriffen der Topologischen Dynamik und der Ergodentheorie in den ersten beiden Kapiteln behandelt das dritte Kapitel den fur die Ergodentheorie zentralen Begriff der Entropie, der seinen Ursprung in der statistischen Physik und der Informationstheorie hat, und der die Komplexitat eines masstheoretischen dynamischen Systems quantifiziert. Das vierte Kapitel ist ebenfalls der Entropie gewidmet, diesmal aber im Rahmen der topologischen Dynamik, bei derEntropie einen quantitativen Ausdruck fur die Verformung eines kompakten metrischen Raumes durch eine stetige Transformation darstellt. Das funfte und letzte Kapitel gibt einen kleinen Einblick in aktuelle Entwicklungen der Theorie der dynamischen Systeme mit ihren mehrparametrischen Verallgemeinerungen des klassischen Konzepts der Zeitentwicklung und den daraus entspringenden und zum Teil uberraschenden Querverbindungen zu anderen mathematischen Disziplinen.
Das in Vorlesungen erprobte Material dieses Buches kann durch eine den Interessen der Studierenden angepasste Themenauswahl wahlweise fur eine ein- oder zweisemestrige Vorlesung eingesetzt werden. "