- #36
Gib Z
Homework Helper
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This is getting away from the original point, but x=0 is a solution >.<
matticus said:when x = 0 the equation is 1.
But as far as the purpose of this thread, to explain wiles proof, i don't think many of us on here would get much out of it. when wiles made the error in his proof initially he said "Even explaining it to a mathematician would require the mathematician to spend two or three months studying that part of the manuscript in great detail."
HallsofIvy said:And certainly, any different proof will be no easier to understand than Wiles'.
matticus said:what's the difference between proving that a proof exists and proving the theorem? if you prove that a proof exists then assuming the theorem was false would lead to a contradiction. so saying a proof exists is essentially proving it isn't it?
Fermat's Last Theorem is a mathematical conjecture 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.
Fermat called it his "last" theorem because he claimed to have a proof for it, but never wrote it down. It remained unsolved for over 350 years until it was finally proven in 1995 by British mathematician Andrew Wiles.
Fermat's Last Theorem is considered one of the most famous and important problems in mathematics. Its proof required the development of new mathematical concepts and techniques, and it has applications in many other areas of mathematics.
In 1993, Andrew Wiles presented a proof of the theorem, building upon the work of many mathematicians over the centuries. However, a small flaw was found in his proof, which he was able to fix and present a complete proof in 1995.
Yes, there are many generalizations of Fermat's Last Theorem, including equations with more than two variables and equations involving higher powers. These generalizations are still being studied and proven by mathematicians today.