On Invariants and the Theory of Numbers

Of enormous historical importance, this classic offered the first public formulation of Dickson's theory of invariants for modular forms and linear transformations. In many sections of the five lectures included here, Dickson aimed not at complete generality, but at an illumination of typical and suggestive topics. The introductory lecture is followed by sections on seminvariants of algebraic and modular binary forms; invariants of a modular group and formal invariants and covariants of modular forms; modular geometry and covariantive theory of a quadratic form in m variables, modulo 2; and a theory of plane cubic curves with a real inflexion point valid in ordinary and in modular geometry. 1914 ed.