MA32064: Number theory and cryptography
[Page last updated: 22 May 2025]
| Academic Year: | 2025/26 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Mathematical Sciences |
| Credits: | 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 100 |
| Level: | Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
- Semester 1
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| Assessment Summary: | EXCB 100% |
| Assessment Detail: |
- Closed-book written examination (EXCB 100%)
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
- Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
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| Requisites: |
Before taking this module you must take MA12004 OR take MA12011 OR take MA12013 OR take MA10210
In taking this module you cannot take MA40238
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| Learning Outcomes: |
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Solve problems involving elementary number theory.
- Demonstrate understanding in a range of more advanced topics in number theory.
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| Synopsis: | Number theory concerns the study of the whole numbers and is one of the oldest areas of mathematics. It is a subject that can trace its history back to antiquity and has in modern times found spectacular applications to coding theory and cryptography. You will cover some of the great topics in elementary number theory and explore some of its applications.
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| Content: | Elementary number theory, congruences, Chinese Remainder Theorem, Euler phi function, Mobius inversion, prime number theory, perfect numbers, Mersenne primes, Fermat primes, Carmichael numbers, RSA cryptography, Diffie-Hellman key exchange, discrete logarithm problem, quadratic residues, The quadratic reciprocity theorem. Further topics to be taken from: continued fractions, Diophantine equations, quadratic forms, Cryptography, and error correcting codes.
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| Course availability: |
MA32064 is Optional on the following courses:
Department of Computer Science
- USCM-AFB32 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics (Year 3)
- USCM-AAB20 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USCM-AKB20 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USCM-AFM32 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics (Year 3)
- USCM-AKM32 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics with professional placement (Year 3)
- USCM-AKM32 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Mathematics with study abroad (Year 3)
Department of Economics
- UHES-AFB12 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Mathematics (Year 3)
- UHES-AAB04 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Mathematics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- UHES-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Mathematics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- UHES-ACB04 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Mathematics with Combined Placement and Study Abroad (Year 4)
Department of Mathematical Sciences
- USMA-AAB16 : BSc(Hons) Mathematical Sciences with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USMA-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Mathematical Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USMA-AFB30 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics (Year 3)
- USMA-AAB14 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USMA-AKB14 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USMA-AFB32 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Statistics (Year 3)
- USMA-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Statistics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USMA-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Statistics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USMA-AFB33 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics, Statistics and Data Science (Year 3)
- USMA-AAB20 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USMA-AKB20 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science with Industrial Placement (Year 4)
- USMA-AFM30 : MMath(Hons) Mathematics (Year 3)
- USMA-AKM15 : MMath(Hons) Mathematics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
Department of Physics
- USPH-AFB26 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics (Year 3)
- USXX-AAB04 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USXX-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USPH-AFM26 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics (Year 3)
- USXX-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USXX-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Mathematics and Physics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
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Notes: - This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2025/26 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2026/27 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2025/26.
- 好色tv and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
- Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
- Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.
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