THE FERMATS LAST THEOREM
Fermats Last Theorem is one of the most famous unsolved problems in Mathematics. It is often described as the riddle that baffled the world. The theorem states that no three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation an + bn = cn, for n greater than 2.
The theorem was first suggested by the French mathematician, Pierre de Fermat, in 1637. Although it had been stated without proof by the earlier mathematicians, Fermat was the first to present a complete proof. However, his proof was incomplete. He wrote that he had a remarkable proof but it was too large to include in the margin of the page.
The search for a proof of the theorem took over 300 years and involved hundreds of mathematicians from all over the world. It is one of the most notorious questions in mathematics, as a proof for or against the theorem had eluded mathematicians for centuries. Many attempted to find a proof, but it was not until 1995 that the theorem was finally proved.
The proof was provided by Andrew Wiles, a British mathematician who worked for seven years attempting to solve the theorem. He presented his proof at a conference on the subject of elliptic curves at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Cambridge, England. After the conference, Wiles was heralded as a hero of mathematics and received a standing ovation from other mathematicians in attendance.
Despite being subject to intense scrutiny by the mathematical community, Wiles’ proof was accepted and is seen as one of the greatest achievements by a mathematician in history. Indeed, the proof has been called the most significant mathematical discovery of the 20th century. Thousands of books, articles, documentaries and websites have been devoted to the theorem, with the topic inspiring much of culture, including books, movies, comics and plays.
Fermat’s Last Theorem. Though the theorem has been solved, there is much more to be explored and many other questions still unanswered. As such, its legacy continues to attract interest from around the world. The theorem is a inspiring example of the power of mathematics to reveal hidden truths about the universe, and is an enduring testament to the power of the human spirit and imagination to use mathematics to tackle the unknown.