Elliptic Curves and Their Integration into an Existing Undergraduate Number Theory Course
Open Access
Author:
Minner, Lauren Jeanette
Area of Honors:
Mathematics
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Paul Becker, Thesis Supervisor Daniel Joseph Galiffa, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
mathematics elliptic curves number theory finite fields cryptography cryptology
Abstract:
In this thesis, we propose integrating the basic concepts of finite fields and elliptic curves into
an undergraduate number theory course and discuss the basic concepts that could be built upon
existing course material. The purpose of this is to introduce and prepare students for the possible
study of this material in graduate school. We also aim to identify a few crypographical algorithms
commonly used in online communication, and explain how such algorithms work when integrated
with elliptic curves.
