Some uses of microcomputers in number theory research

AbstractThe development of number theory has been influenced greatly by the use of computers. Although many of these computers were comparatively large and fast when they were used, most of the work they did could have been done by modern microcomputers. This paper describes several ways microcomputers could have been used and can be used to aid research in number theory. Since this article updates a recent survey article of H. C. Williams on the influence of computers in the development of number theory, it discusses only a few problems such as factoring integers, testing integers for primality and Waring's problem