Algebraic Number Theory and Fermat's Last Theorem

<P>This text introduces fundamental ideas of algebraic numbers and explores one of the most intriguing stories in the history of mathematics—the quest for a proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem. The authors use this celebrated theorem to motivate a general study of the theory of algebraic numbers from a relatively concrete point of view. Along with several recent developments, this fourth edition provides up-to-date information on unique prime factorization for real quadratic number fields and presents Mihăilescu’s proof of the Catalan conjecture. </P>