Number Theory/Expert Profile


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Vijilant

U.K.
Available
Expertise

Most questions on number theory, divisibility, primes, Euclidean algorithm, Fermat`s theorem, Wilson`s theorem, factorisation, euclidean algorithm, diophantine equations, Chinese remainder theorem, group theory, congruences, continued fractions.

Experience in the area

Teacher of math for 50 years

Organizations

ATL

Publications

Journal of mathematics and its applications

Education/Credentials

BSc Hons Liverpool

Awards and Honors

State Scholarship 1955

Past/Present Clients

I taught John Birt, former Director of the BBC in 1961. His homework book was the most perfect I have ever marked. And also the most neat. I could tell he was destined for great things. One of my classmates was the poet Roger McGough, and I have a mention in his autobiography.

What do you like about this subject?

The variety, and the fact that everyone can participate. Anyone could discover a new largest prime number by joining the Mersenne prime project, using their computer off-line in the background to do masses of calculations.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

I would love to have enough knowledge to completely understand Andrew Wiles's proof of Fermat's last theorem.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Secure encrypted messaging can be dependent on the difficulty of factorising the product of two large prime numbers.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Does the beauty I find in number theory demand a divine creator for the Universe?

Average Ratings

  • Knowledgeability 9.94
  • Clarity of Response 9.88
  • Timeliness 9.97
  • Politeness 9.96
  • Number of Questions (in Past 24 Hours) 1
  • Max Questions to be Asked (in 24 Hour Period) 5
  • Total Questions (since joining AllExperts) 1153
  • Volunteer Since 2004-10-30
  • Prestige Points 11968

Recent Reviews from Users

Read More Comments

    K = Knowledgeability    C = Clarity of Response    T = Timeliness    P = Politeness
UserDateKCTPComments
Michael11/20/0910101010 
Asad11/16/0910101010Thanks
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Skrosuri11/09/0910101010Wow. Thanks a lot, and lots of .....
Asad11/09/0910101010Thanks

Recent Answers from Vijilant

2009-11-16 Number Theory - Mersenne Primes:

Hello Kevin This question is really about the factor theorem. Do you remember it? A polynomial p(x) has the factor (x-a) iff p(x) = 0 has a root x = a. Now, a polynomial of the form p(x) = a^(2k+1)

2009-11-10 ap calculus ab:

Hello Asad I hope these aren't homework problems. It's OK if you have managed to do 1 to 18 yourself. 19. You need to multiply out N and D to get (x^2+3x+2)/(x^2-3x+2) Then use the quotient rule to

2009-11-08 ap calculus ab:

Hello Asad These aren't problems but routine examples. I suspect you haven't studied worked examples of the techniques. OK that's the lecture over. 2. The method here is to divide N and D by x^2.

2009-11-04 ap calculus ab:

Hello Asad You don't say what to differentiate with respect to, but I shall assume it is x. 9. (1/a)(2x/b - 2/a + d/x^2). It is arguable what the simplest expression is here. It may be 2x/(ab)

2009-11-03 urgent math:

Hello George You have left it late. Why didn't you query days ago. It is past midnight here in the UK and though I can answer all your questions, I don't have time. So I'll give you half an hour

 

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