In this thesis the last two digits of m^k, for different cases of the positive integers m and k, in the base of 10 has been determined. Moreover, using fundamental theory from elementary number theory and abstract algebra, results most helpful in finding the last two digits in any base b has been regarded and developed, such as how to reduce large m and k to more manageable numbers.

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on December 30, 2009). Thesis advisor: Dr. William Banks. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boise State University, 2009. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 82).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 149-152).

Programm-Collège royal français. Berlin. / Cover title.

Thesis--Ph. D., University of Hong Kong. / Mimeographed.

It is known that the binary Goldbach problem is one of the open problems on linear equations in primes, and it has the Goldbach-Linnik problem, that is, representation of an even integer in the form of two odd primes and powers of two, as its approximate problem. The theme of my research is on linear equations in primes and powers of two. Precisely, there are two cases: one pair of linear equations in primes and powers of two, and one class of pairs of linear equations in primes and powers of two, in this thesis. In 2002, D.R. Heath-Brown and P.C. Puchta obtained that every sufficiently large even integer is the sum of two odd primes and k powers of two. Here k = 13, or = 7 under the generalized Riemann hypothesis. In 2010, B. Green and T. Tao obtained that every pair of linear equations in four prime variables with coefficients matrix A = (a_ij)s×t with s ≤ t, satisfying nondegenerate condition, that is, A has full rank and the only elements of the row-space of A over Q with two or fewer nonzero entries is the zero vector, is solvable. The restriction on the coefficient matrix means that they excluded the case of the binary Goldbach problem. Motivated by the above results, it is obtained that for every pair of sufficiently large positive even integers B1, B2, the simultaneous equation {█({B1 = p1 + p2 + 2v1 + 2v2 + · · · + 2vk ,@B2 = p3 + p4 + 2v1 + 2v2 + · · · + 2vk ,)┤ (1) is solvable, where p1, · · · , p4 are odd primes, each vi is a positive integer, and the positive integer k ≥ 63 or ≥ 31 under the generalized Riemann hypothesis. Note that, in 1989, M.C. Liu and K.M. Tsang have obtained that subject to some natural conditions on the coefficients, every pair of linear equations in five prime variables is solvable. Therefore one class of pairs of linear equations in four prime variables with special coefficient matrix and powers of two is considered. Indeed, it is deduced that every pair of integers B1 and B2 satisfying B1 ≡ 0 (mod 2), 3BB1 > e^(eB^48 ), B2 ≡ ∑_1^4▒= 1^(a_i ) (mod 2) and |B2| < BB1, where B = max1≤j≤4(2, |aj|), can be represented as {█(B1 = 〖p1〗_1 + p2 + 2^(v_1 ) + 2^(v_2 )+ · · · + 2^(v_k )@B2 = a1p1 + a2p2 + a3p3 + a4p4 + 2^(v_1 )+ 2^(v_2 )+ · · · + 2^(v_k ) )┤ (2) with k being a positive integer. Here p1, · · · p4 are odd primes, each 〖v 〗_iis a positive integer and the integral coefficients ai (i = 1, 2, 3, 4) satisfy {█((〖a 〗_1- 〖a 〗_2, 〖a 〗_3, 〖a 〗_4) = 1,@〖a 〗_1 〖a 〗_2< 0, 〖a 〗_3 〖a 〗_4<0,)┤ Moreover it is calculated that the positive integer k ≥ g(〖a 〗_1- 〖a 〗_2, 〖a 〗_3, 〖a 〗_4) where g(〖a 〗_21- 〖a 〗_22, 〖a 〗_23, 〖a 〗_24) = [(log⁡〖G(〖a 〗_21, …, 〖a 〗_24 〗)-log⁡〖F (〖a 〗_21, …, 〖a 〗_24)〗)/log0.975805-84.0285], (3) G(〖a 〗_21, 〖a 〗_22, 〖a 〗_23, 〖a 〗_24) = (min(1/(|a_24 |), 1/(|a_23 |)) - (〖|a〗_(21 )- a_22 |)/(|〖a_23 a〗_24 |) 〖(3B)〗^(-1) ×〖(3B)〗^(-1) (1-0.000001)- 〖(3B)〗^(-1-4), with B = max1≤j≤4(2, |a2j|), and F(a_21, …, a_24) = √(f(a_21)f〖(a〗_22 )) with f(a_2i) = {█(4414.15h (a_21-1)+5.088331 if a_21≠1@59.8411 if a_21=1,)┤ for i = 1, 2, and h(n) =∏_(p|n,p>2)▒(p-1)/(p-2). This result, if without the powers of two, can make up some of the cases excluded in Green and Tao’s paper. / published_or_final_version / Mathematics / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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This report examines the theory of continued fractions and how their use enhances the secondary mathematics curriculum. The use of continued fractions to calculate best approximants of real numbers is justified geometrically, and famous irrational numbers are described as continued fractions. Periodic continued fractions and other applications of continued fractions are also discussed. / text

For a fixed rational prime p and primitive p-th root of unity ζ, we consider the Jacobian, J, of the complete non-singular curve give by equation yᵖ = xᵃ(1 − x)ᵇ. These curves are quotients of the p-th Fermat curve, given by equation xᵖ+yᵖ = 1, by a cyclic group of automorphisms. Let k = Q(ζ) and k(S) be the maximal extension of k unramified away from p inside a fixed algebraic closure of k. We produce a formula for the image of certain coboundary maps in group cohomology given in terms of Massey products, applicable in a general setting. Under specific circumstance, stated precisely below, we can use this formula and a pairing in the Galois cohomology of k(S) over k studied by W. McCallum and R. Sharifi in [MS02] to produce non-trivial elements in the Tate-Shafarevich group of J. In particular, we prove a theorem for predicting when the image of certain cyclotomic p-units in the Selmer group map non-trivially into X(k, J). / Q(zeta) and k_S be the maximal extension of k unramified away from p inside a fixed algebraic closure of k. We produce a formula for the image of certain coboundary maps in group cohomology given in terms of Massey products, applicable in a general setting. Under specific circumstance, stated precisely below, we can use this formula and a pairing in the Galois cohomology of k_S over k studied by W. McCallum and R. Sharifi to produce non-trivial elements in the Tate-Shafarevich group of J. In particular, we prove a theorem for predicting when the image of certain cyclotomic p-units in the Selmer group map non-trivially into Shah(k,J).