1.1-1.3, due Friday, January 6

The most difficult part of the material in sections 1.1-1.3, for me, was the proof of the division algorithm. It was really long and complicated. But I re-read it and understood it. It was beautiful in its logic. I also really liked the logical flow of The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic.

This reading was very interesting. I especially liked learning Euclid's algorithm. I've been reading a book entitiled, "The Advent of the Algorithm" by David Berlinski. It is a history of how the idea of algorithms was developed and its implications for our modern world (which is basically built upon algorithms). It is interesting to learn of some of the ancient algorithms (Euclid being from Classical Greece if I'm not mistaken.) As a double major in Math and History, I find the history of math very interesting. In fact, I took Math 300 (The History and Philosophy of Math) last winter and throughly enjoyed it.