Allen Lin


18.781 Theory of Numbers

Spring 2026


Contents
I. Information II. Description III. Grading IV. Problem Sets V. Quizzes

I Information

Instructor
Ju-Lee Kim
Lecture Tuesdays and Thursdays • 11:00 am–12:30 pm • 4-370 ↗︎
Office hours Tuesdays • 1:00 pm–2:00 pm • 2-442 ↗︎
Office hours Thursdays • 1:30 pm–2:30 pm • 2-442 ↗︎
Teaching Assistant
Allen Lin
Office hours Fridays • 1:30 pm–2:30 pm • 2-255 ↗︎
Teaching Assistant
Oriol Solé Pi
Office hours Wednesdays • 12:30 pm–1:30 pm • 2-332 ↗︎

II Description

An elementary introduction to number theory with no algebraic prerequisites. Primes, congruences, quadratic reciprocity, diophantine equations, irrational numbers, continued fractions, partitions.

Textbook: Ivan Niven, Hubert Zuckerman, and Hugh Montgomery, An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers, 3rd edition.

III Grading

Your grade will be determined by the following scheme.
Scheme
Problem Sets * 15%
Problem Set 1 1.25%
Problem Set 2 1.25%
Problem Set 3 1.25%
Problem Set 4 1.25%
Problem Set 5 1.25%
Problem Set 6 1.25%
Problem Set 7 1.25%
Problem Set 8 1.25%
Problem Set 9 1.25%
Problem Set 10 5%
Quizzes 85%
Quiz I 23%
Quiz II 28%
Quiz III 34%
Total 100%
* Lowest problem set grade of the first 9 dropped

IV Problem Sets

Problem Set 1 Due 13 Feb 2026
Problem Set 2 Due 20 Feb 2026
Problem Set 3 Due 27 Feb 2026
Problem Set 4 Due 13 Mar 2026
Problem Set 5 Due 23 Mar 2026
Problem Set 6 Due 5 Apr 2026
Problem Set 7 Due 19 Apr 2026
Problem Set 8 Due 26 Apr 2026
Problem Set 9 Due 3 May 2026
Problem Set 10 Due 12 May 2026

V Quizzes

Quiz I 5 Mar 2026
Time 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Location 4-370 ↗︎
Quiz II 9 Apr 2026
Time 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Location 4-370 ↗︎
Quiz III 7 May 2026
Time 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Location 4-370 ↗︎