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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. He then died before anyone could obtain 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, as evidenced by the fact that he later proved the n = 4 case separately.
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]] claimed to have proved this using techniques in algebraic geometry. Critics pointed out a flaw in his proof, however. 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 largely accepted by the mathematical community.
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]]