The three-volume series History of the Theory of Numbers is the work of the distinguished mathematician Leonard Eugene Dickson, who taught at the University of Chicago for four decades and is celebrated for his many contributions to number theory and group theory. This final volume in the series, which is suitable for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students, is devoted to quadratic and higher forms. It can be read independently of the preceding volumes, which explore divisibility and primality and diophantine analysis.
Topics include reduction and equivalence of binary quadratic forms and representation of integers; composition of binary quadratic forms; the composition of orders and genera; irregular determinants; classes of binary quadratic forms with integral coefficients; binary quadratic forms whose coefficients are complete integers or integers of a field; classes of binary quadratic forms with complex integral coefficients; ternary and quaternary quadratic forms; cubic forms in three or more variables; binary hermitian forms; bilinear forms, matrices, and linear substitutions; congruencial theory of forms; and many other related topics. Indexes of authors cited and subjects appear at the end of the book.