% -*-latex-*-
\documentstyle[12pt,twoside]{article}
\pagestyle{myheadings}
\markboth{\bf Math 331, Spring 2002}{\bf Math 331, Spring 2002}

\setlength{\textheight}{8.5in}
\setlength{\textwidth}{6.25in}
\setlength{\topmargin}{0pt}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{0pt}
\setlength{\evensidemargin}{\oddsidemargin}

\begin{document}
\thispagestyle{empty}

\begin{center}
{\Large MAT 331, Spring 2002}\\[\baselineskip]
{\Large\bf Project 3: Cryptography}\\[.25\baselineskip]
{\large\it Due Monday, May 13}
\end{center}

For this project, you should pick an encryption scheme,
describe how it works, implement it if possible 
(preferably in {\it Maple}),
and give some explicit examples of its operation.
It would be nice (but not required) to discuss
mathematical aspects of the encryption scheme,
history related to it and its use,
and its strengths and weaknesses.
You should use the library and the Internet for your sources.
(Several cryptography-related links appear on the World Wide Web page.)
You may instead write about a topic related to cryptography,
such as steganography (data hiding), pseudo-random number generators,
digital signatures and cryptographic hashing, cryptographic protocols,
authetication, cryptanalysis (code breaking), etc.
You cannot use an encryption scheme that we have discussed (or will discuss)
in class.

Some topics you might consider are
\begin{itemize}
\item transposition methods
\item the Playfair cipher
\item Vign\`ere's autokey system
\item rotor-like algorithms, such as the German enigma
\item Knapsack methods
\item probabilistic methods
\item El Gamal encryption
\item elliptic curve cryptography
\item automatic breaking of a Vin\`ere cipher
\item zero-knowledge proofs
\item playing poker over the telephone
\item secret-sharing algorithms
\end{itemize}
\noindent

If the topic you choose is not appropriate for implementation, your
paper should make up for that with a more detailed discussion.

This project is primarily expository in nature.
In your report, please pay attention to organization, sentence structure,
and so on.
You will be graded on both the quality of your mathematical exposition
and on the correctness of your computer work
(that is, the implementation of your encryption scheme).
You should treat this report like a term paper.
A good paper should be complete and self-contained,
discussing any necessary background material.  
Think of yourself six months ago as a typical reader.
\end{document}
