SUMMARY
A computer scientist claimed to have proven Fermat's Last Theorem for the numbers x=2233445566, y=7788990011, and z=9988776655. During a press conference, a 10-year-old boy identified a flaw in the scientist's calculations, asserting that the theorem cannot hold for these values. The boy's insight was based on the modular arithmetic properties of the numbers, specifically their congruences modulo 5. This incident highlights the importance of rigorous verification in mathematical proofs, especially when dealing with complex theorems like Fermat's.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of Fermat's Last Theorem
- Basic knowledge of modular arithmetic
- Familiarity with computer programming and debugging
- Concept of mathematical proof verification
NEXT STEPS
- Study the implications of Fermat's Last Theorem in number theory
- Learn about modular arithmetic and its applications in proofs
- Explore debugging techniques in programming to avoid calculation errors
- Research historical attempts to prove Fermat's Last Theorem
USEFUL FOR
Mathematicians, computer scientists, educators, and students interested in number theory and the history of mathematical proofs.