Making Transcendence Transparent

While the study of transcendental numbers is a fundamental pursuit within number theory, the general mathematics community is familiar only with its most elementary results. The aim of Making Transcendence Transparent is to introduce readers to the major "classical" results and themes of transcendental number theory and to provide an intuitive framework in which the basic principles and tools of transcendence can be understood. The text includes not just the myriad of technical details requisite for transcendence proofs, but also intuitive overviews of the central ideas of those arguments so that readers can appreciate and enjoy a panoramic view of transcendence. In addition, the text offers a number of excursions into the basic algebraic notions necessary for the journey. Thus the book is designed to appeal not only to interested mathematicians, but also to both graduate students and advanced undergraduates.§Edward Burger is Professor of Mathematics and Chair at Williams College. His research interests are in Diophantine analysis, and he is the author of over forty papers, books, and videos. The Mathematical Association of America has honored Burger on a number of occasions including, most recently, in awarding him the prestigious 2004 Chauvenet Prize.§Robert Tubbs is a Professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He has written numerous papers in transcendental number theory. Tubbs has held visiting positions at the Institute for Advanced Study, MSRI, and at Paris VI. He has recently completed a book on the cultural history of mathematical truth.This is the first book that makes the difficult and important subject of transcendental number theory accessible to undergraduate mathematics students. §Edward Burger is one of the authors of The Heart of Mathematics, winner of a 2001 Robert W. Hamilton Book Award. He will also be awarded the 2004 Chauvenet Prize, one of the most prestigious MAA prizes for outstanding exposition.While the theory of transcendental numbers is a fundamental and important branch of number theory, most mathematicians know only its most elementary results. The aim of "Making Transcendence Transparent" is to provide the reader with an understanding of the basic principles and tools of transcendence theory and an intuitive framework within which the major results can be appreciated and their proofs can be understood. The book includes big picture overviews of the over-arching ideas, and general points of attack in particular arguments, so the reader will enjoy and appreciate the panoramic view of transcendence. It is designed to appeal to interested mathematicians, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates.