Difference between revisions of "Fermat's Last Theorem"
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[[Image:Pierre de Fermat.jpg|thumb|right|Pierre de Fermat]] | [[Image:Pierre de Fermat.jpg|thumb|right|Pierre de Fermat]] | ||
| − | Fermat's Last Theorem was conjectured by the French mathematician [[Pierre de Fermat]]. He said he had proved this problem but that there was not enough room in the margin to state his proof. | + | Fermat's Last Theorem was conjectured by the French mathematician [[Pierre de Fermat]]. He said he had proved this problem but that there was not enough room in the margin to state his proof. |
| − | This problem has confounded mathematicians for centuries, and there still is no proof for it using [[elementary techniques]]. Most doubt that Fermat was able to prove it himself | + | This problem has confounded mathematicians for centuries, and there still is no proof for it using [[elementary techniques]]. Most doubt that Fermat was able to prove it himself. |
The theorem is as follows: | The theorem is as follows: | ||
[[Image:Wiles.png|thumb|right|Andrew Wiles]] | [[Image:Wiles.png|thumb|right|Andrew Wiles]] | ||
| − | For integers n > 2, there are no integral solutions to: x<sup>n</sup> + y<sup>n</sup> = z<sup>n</sup> | + | For integers n > 2, there are no nonzero integral solutions to: x<sup>n</sup> + y<sup>n</sup> = z<sup>n</sup> |
In the summer of 1986, Ken Ribet proved that Fermat's Last Theorem is a special case of the [[Taniyama–Shimura Conjecture]]. | In the summer of 1986, Ken Ribet proved that Fermat's Last Theorem is a special case of the [[Taniyama–Shimura Conjecture]]. | ||
| − | In a series of lectures in 1993, mathematician [[Andrew Wiles]] | + | In a series of lectures in 1993, mathematician [[Andrew Wiles]] announced a proof using techniques in algebraic geometry. A flaw was found before publication. Wiles spent a year trying to fix the flaw, and in September 1994, he and Richard Taylor announced a new version of the proof that was accepted by the mathematical community. |
[[Category:Mathematics]] | [[Category:Mathematics]] | ||
Revision as of 07:23, March 27, 2007
Fermat's Last Theorem was conjectured by the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat. He said he had proved this problem but that there was not enough room in the margin to state his proof.
This problem has confounded mathematicians for centuries, and there still is no proof for it using elementary techniques. Most doubt that Fermat was able to prove it himself.
The theorem is as follows:
For integers n > 2, there are no nonzero integral solutions to: xn + yn = zn
In the summer of 1986, Ken Ribet proved that Fermat's Last Theorem is a special case of the Taniyama–Shimura Conjecture.
In a series of lectures in 1993, mathematician Andrew Wiles announced a proof using techniques in algebraic geometry. A flaw was found before publication. Wiles spent a year trying to fix the flaw, and in September 1994, he and Richard Taylor announced a new version of the proof that was accepted by the mathematical community.