Markov's Theorem and 100 Years of the Uniqueness Conjecture

A Mathematical Journey from Irrational Numbers to Perfect Matchings

(Autor)

Buch | Hardcover
X, 257 Seiten
2013 | 2013
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-319-00887-5 (ISBN)

Lese- und Medienproben

Markov's Theorem and 100 Years of the Uniqueness Conjecture - Martin Aigner
149,79 inkl. MwSt
This book takes the reader on a mathematical journey from the number-theoretic setting of the Theorem of Markov and its Uniqueness Conjecture, gradually unfolding many beautiful connections, until in the proof of the Theorem everything falls into place.
This book takes the reader on a mathematical journey, from a number-theoretic point of view, to the realm of Markov's theorem and the uniqueness conjecture, gradually unfolding many beautiful connections until everything falls into place in the proof of Markov's theorem. What makes the Markov theme so attractive is that it appears in an astounding variety of different fields, from number theory to combinatorics, from classical groups and geometry to the world of graphs and words.

On the way, there are also introductory forays into some fascinating topics that do not belong to the standard curriculum, such as Farey fractions, modular and free groups, hyperbolic planes, and algebraic words. The book closes with a discussion of the current state of knowledge about the uniqueness conjecture, which remains an open challenge to this day.

All the material should be accessible to upper-level undergraduates with some background in number theory, and anything beyond this level is fully explained in the text.

This is not a monograph in the usual sense concentrating on a specific topic. Instead, it narrates in five parts - Numbers, Trees, Groups, Words, Finale - the story of a discovery in one field and its many manifestations in others, as a tribute to a great mathematical achievement and as an intellectual pleasure, contemplating the marvellous unity of all mathematics.

Approximation of Irrational Numbers.- Markov's Theorem and the Uniqueness Conjecture.- The Markov Tree.- The Cohn Tree.- The Modular Group SL(2,Z).- The Free Group F2.- Christoffel Words.- Sturmian Words.- Proof of Markov's Theorem.- The Uniqueness Conjecture.

From the book reviews:

"The topic, and its presentation, does make it a fine source for seminar usage. ... this is a fine text for students who are ready to see material connecting various areas of mathematics. It reveals the beauty and hints at the excitement of 'live' mathematics." (Thomas A. Schmidt, Mathematical Reviews, September, 2014)

"In number theory, Markov's theorem (1879) reveals surprising structure within a set of real numbers, called the Lagrange spectrum, which collects precise information about approximability of irrational numbers. ... Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above." (D. V. Feldman, Choice, Vol. 51 (8), April, 2014)

"Book tells the story of a celebrated theorem and an intriguing conjecture: Markov's theorem from 1879 and the uniqueness conjecture formulated by Frobenius ... . author takes the opportunity to look at this theorem and this conjecture from many different viewpoints ... . He offers a journey through the mathematical world around Markov's theorem in a leisurely and relaxed style, making his book very pleasant to read. ... An undergraduate student will certainly enjoy this reading and learn a lot." (Yann Bugeaud, Jahresbericht der Deutschen Mathematiker-Vereinigung, Vol. 116, 2014)

"This beautiful book gives readers a chance to familiarize themselves with a very simple and yet very difficult problem in number theory, and teaches them that it pays to look at a problem from many different angles. I recommend it to all students who are already hooked to number theory, and perhaps even more to those who are not." (Franz Lemmermeyer, zbMATH, Vol. 1276, 2014)

Erscheint lt. Verlag 29.7.2013
Zusatzinfo X, 257 p.
Verlagsort Cham
Sprache englisch
Maße 155 x 235 mm
Gewicht 541 g
Themenwelt Mathematik / Informatik Mathematik Arithmetik / Zahlentheorie
Mathematik / Informatik Mathematik Graphentheorie
Mathematik / Informatik Mathematik Wahrscheinlichkeit / Kombinatorik
Schlagworte combinatorics • Continued fractions • Lagrange Spectrum • Markov Theorem • Modular group • Uniqueness Conjecture of Markov Numbers
ISBN-10 3-319-00887-0 / 3319008870
ISBN-13 978-3-319-00887-5 / 9783319008875
Zustand Neuware
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