An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers

This is the fifth edition of a work (first published in 1938) which has become the standard introduction to the subject. The book has grown out of lectures delivered by the authors at Oxford, Cambridge, Aberdeen, and other universities. It is neither a systematic treatise on the theory of numbers nor a 'popular' book for non-mathematical readers. It contains short accounts of the elements of many different sides of the theory, not usually combined in a single volume; and, although it is written for mathematicians, the range of mathematical knowledge presupposed is not greater than that of an intelligent first-year student. In this edition, the main changes are in the notes at the end of each chapter. Sir Edward Wright seeks to provide up-to-date references for the reader who wishes to pursue a particular topic further and to present, both in the notes and in the text, a reasonably accurate account of the present state of knowledge.

这是一部著作的第五版（首版于1938年），它已成为该学科的标准入门读物。本书源自作者们在牛津、剑桥、阿伯丁以及其他大学所做的讲座。它既不是关于数论的系统专著，也不是为非数学专业读者编写的“通俗”读物。它包含了数论许多不同方面的基本内容简述，这些内容通常不会汇集在单卷本中；而且，尽管它是为数学家而写，但所需的数学知识范围并不超过一个聪明的一年级学生所具备的知识。在这一版中，主要的改动在每章末尾的注释部分。爱德华·赖特爵士试图为希望进一步探究某一特定主题的读者提供最新的参考文献，并在注释和正文当中对当前的知识状况给出合理准确的阐述。