This class is for students of all ages. Many of the most fundamental discoveries in number theory were made using only high school algebra and the power of creative thinking. In this class, we will explore the world of prime numbers. How do we know that the prime numbers go on forever? You could find the first one million prime numbers but that doesn’t mean the list keeps going. We need a creative idea (a proof!) to show that the list of prime numbers never ends. We will discuss how to write and create proofs in mathematics. In particular, we will give several proofs that the prime numbers are infinite.
We will also discuss the Riemann Hypothesis. This is a famous open problem about prime numbers whose solution is worth one million dollars.
About your teacher: My name is Dr. Richard Gottesman (Ph.D. in mathematics) and I am a mathematician living in Great Neck. My research is in modular forms and number theory. I earned my PhD at the University of California, Santa Cruz and completed my postdoctoral fellowship at Queen’s University. I have taught courses in abstract algebra, linear algebra, proof writing, and calculus at Queen’s University and the University of California, Santa Cruz.
I have also taught number theory to advanced high school students for several summers at the COSMOS program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. In addition to teaching math, I also teach improv comedy classes at the Great Neck public library and the Bryant Library. I also work with students individually. If you would like to contact me, please email richard.b.gottesman@gmail.com.
