Integral Quadratic Forms

by Watson

Overview

This tract gives a fairly elementary account of the theory of quadratic forms with integral coefficients and variables. It assumes a knowledge of the rudiments of matrix algebra and of elementary number theory, but scarcely any analysis. It is therefore intelligible to beginners and helps to prepare them for the study of the advanced work on quadratic forms over general rings. Dr Watson works step by step from wider (and easier) to narrower relations between forms, the final goal being the study of equivalence. The important problem of representation of integers is fully discussed in the course of the main development. There is an early chapter on reduction. Existing work on the theory of integral quadratic forms is obscure (partly for historical reasons). But the straightforward approach adopted by Dr Watson leads to a consideration of most of the main problems; there are proofs of many recent results, including some discovered by Dr Watson but hitherto unpublished.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521091817
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	12/04/2008
Series:	Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics , #51
Pages:	156
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.35(d)

Table of Contents

1. Introductory; 2. Reduction; 3. The Rational Invariants; 4. p-Adic Equivalence; 5. The Congruence Class and the Genus; 6. Rational Transformations; 7. Equivalence and Spinor-Relatedness; 8. The General Rational Automorph.