Numbers: Rational and Irrational (New Mathematical Library Series, Vol.1)

A superb development that starts with the natural numbers and carries the reader through the rationals and their decimal representations to algebraic numbers and then to the real numbers. Along the way, you will see characterizations of the rationals and of certain special (Liouville) transcendental numbers.

This material is basic to all of algebra and analysis. Professor Niven's book may be read with profit by interested high school students as well as by college students and others who want to know more about the basic aspects of pure mathematics. Most readers will find the early chapters well within their grasp while ambitious readers will profit by the more advanced material to be found in later chapters.