Digitized Proof of Wiles' Fermat's Last Theorem: Seeking a Link | Neohaven

Thread starter Neohaven
Start date Jan 13, 2006
Tags

Theorem

In summary, Fermat's last theorem, proposed by French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in the 17th century, states that no three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation an + bn = cn for any integer value of n greater than 2. It took nearly 358 years for British mathematician Andrew Wiles to provide a proof, as it was considered one of the most difficult problems in mathematics due to its complexity and involvement of various mathematical concepts. While it has no practical applications, it has significant implications in number theory and has inspired advancements in other mathematical areas. It only applies to the specific case of an + bn = cn for n greater than 2, and it is still an open problem whether

Jan 13, 2006

Neohaven

Does anyone have a link to a digitized proof of Wiles? Searched on Google a bit and couldn't find it.

Thanks, Neohaven

Physics news on Phys.org

Jan 13, 2006

Muzza

http://math.stanford.edu/~lekheng/flt/

Jan 13, 2006

Neohaven

Thanks for the link!

What is Fermat's last theorem?

Fermat's last theorem, also known as Fermat's conjecture, is a mathematical theorem proposed by French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in the 17th century. It states that no three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation an + bn = cn for any integer value of n greater than 2.

How long did it take to prove Fermat's last theorem?

Fermat's last theorem was first proposed in 1637, but it remained unproven until 1995, when British mathematician Andrew Wiles provided a proof after years of work. This means it took nearly 358 years to prove the theorem.

Why was Fermat's last theorem so difficult to prove?

Fermat's last theorem was considered one of the most difficult problems in mathematics because it required a proof that was beyond the knowledge and techniques available during Fermat's time. It also involved a wide range of mathematical concepts, making it challenging to find a solution.

What are the applications of Fermat's last theorem?

Fermat's last theorem has no practical applications in fields such as engineering or physics. However, it has significant implications in number theory and has inspired advancements in other mathematical areas, such as algebraic geometry and elliptic curves.

Can Fermat's last theorem be generalized to higher powers?

No, Fermat's last theorem only applies to the specific case of an + bn = cn for n greater than 2. It has been proven that the equation has no solutions for n greater than 4, but it is still an open problem whether there are solutions for n = 4.