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Larry J. Gerstein University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Available Formats:
Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-8218-4465-6
Product Code: GSM/90
List Price: $64.00 MAA Member Price:$57.60
AMS Member Price: $51.20 Electronic ISBN: 978-1-4704-1159-6 Product Code: GSM/90.E List Price:$60.00
MAA Member Price: $54.00 AMS Member Price:$48.00
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List Price: $96.00 MAA Member Price:$86.40
AMS Member Price: $76.80 Click above image for expanded view Basic Quadratic Forms Larry J. Gerstein University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA Available Formats:  Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-8218-4465-6 Product Code: GSM/90  List Price:$64.00 MAA Member Price: $57.60 AMS Member Price:$51.20
 Electronic ISBN: 978-1-4704-1159-6 Product Code: GSM/90.E
 List Price: $60.00 MAA Member Price:$54.00 AMS Member Price: $48.00 Bundle Print and Electronic Formats and Save! This product is available for purchase as a bundle. Purchasing as a bundle enables you to save on the electronic version.  List Price:$96.00 MAA Member Price: $86.40 AMS Member Price:$76.80
• Book Details

Volume: 902008; 255 pp
MSC: Primary 11; 12; 15;

The arithmetic theory of quadratic forms is a rich branch of number theory that has had important applications to several areas of pure mathematics—particularly group theory and topology—as well as to cryptography and coding theory. This book is a self-contained introduction to quadratic forms that is based on graduate courses the author has taught many times. It leads the reader from foundation material up to topics of current research interest—with special attention to the theory over the integers and over polynomial rings in one variable over a field—and requires only a basic background in linear and abstract algebra as a prerequisite. Whenever possible, concrete constructions are chosen over more abstract arguments. The book includes many exercises and explicit examples, and it is appropriate as a textbook for graduate courses or for independent study. To facilitate further study, a guide to the extensive literature on quadratic forms is provided.

Graduate students interested in number theory and algebra. Mathematicians seeking an introduction to the study of quadratic forms on lattices over the integers and related rings.

• Chapters
• Chapter 1. A brief classical introduction
• Chapter 2. Quadratic spaces and lattices
• Chapter 3. Valuations, local fields, and $p$-adic numbers
• Chapter 4. Quadratic spaces over $\mathbb {Q}_p$
• Chapter 5. Quadratic spaces over $\mathbb {Q}$
• Chapter 6. Lattices over principal ideal domains
• Chapter 7. Initial integral results
• Chapter 8. Local classification of lattices
• Chapter 9. The local-global approach to lattices
• Chapter 10. Lattices over $\mathbb {F}_q[x]$
• Chapter 11. Applications to cryptography

• Reviews

• Basic Quadratic Forms is a great introduction to the theory of quadratic forms. The author is clearly an expert on the area as well as a masterful teacher. ... It should be included in the collection of any quadratic forms enthusiast.

MAA Reviews
• Gerstein's book contains a significant amount of material that has not appeared anywhere else in book form. ... It is written in an engaging style, and the author has struck a good balance, presenting enough proofs and arguments to give the flavor of the subject without getting bogged down in too many technical details. It can be expected to whet the appetites of many readers to delve more deeply into this beautiful classical subject and its contemporary applications.

Andrew G. Earnest for Zentralblatt MATH
• Requests

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Volume: 902008; 255 pp
MSC: Primary 11; 12; 15;

The arithmetic theory of quadratic forms is a rich branch of number theory that has had important applications to several areas of pure mathematics—particularly group theory and topology—as well as to cryptography and coding theory. This book is a self-contained introduction to quadratic forms that is based on graduate courses the author has taught many times. It leads the reader from foundation material up to topics of current research interest—with special attention to the theory over the integers and over polynomial rings in one variable over a field—and requires only a basic background in linear and abstract algebra as a prerequisite. Whenever possible, concrete constructions are chosen over more abstract arguments. The book includes many exercises and explicit examples, and it is appropriate as a textbook for graduate courses or for independent study. To facilitate further study, a guide to the extensive literature on quadratic forms is provided.

Graduate students interested in number theory and algebra. Mathematicians seeking an introduction to the study of quadratic forms on lattices over the integers and related rings.

• Chapters
• Chapter 1. A brief classical introduction
• Chapter 2. Quadratic spaces and lattices
• Chapter 3. Valuations, local fields, and $p$-adic numbers
• Chapter 4. Quadratic spaces over $\mathbb {Q}_p$
• Chapter 5. Quadratic spaces over $\mathbb {Q}$
• Chapter 6. Lattices over principal ideal domains
• Chapter 7. Initial integral results
• Chapter 8. Local classification of lattices
• Chapter 9. The local-global approach to lattices
• Chapter 10. Lattices over $\mathbb {F}_q[x]$
• Chapter 11. Applications to cryptography