Fermat's Last Theorem
Fermat's Last Theorem
Fermat's Last Theorem states that no three positive integers, for example (x,y,z), can satisfy the equation x^n+y^n=z^n if the integer value of n is greater than 2. Fermat's Last Theorem is an example a Diophantine equation(Weisstein). A Diophantine equation is a polynomial equation in which the solution must be an integers. These equations came from the works of Diophantus who was a mathematician who worked methods on solving these equations. Fermat's Last Theorem was based on Diophantus's work. A more common Diophantine equation would be Pythagorean Theorem, where the solution would be the the Pythagorean triples(Weisstein). However, unlike Pythagorean Theorem, Fermat's Last Theorem has no practical real world applications.
Fermat had scribbled on the margin of Arithmetica, the book that inspired his theorem, that he had a proof that would not fit on the margin of a book. From the 1600's-mid 1900's this proof remained unsolved. It was eventually solved by Andrew Wiles. Andrew Wiles as a child always loved math, he would always make up problems and challenge himself. His greatest challenge was when he stumbled upon Fermat's Last Theorem at the local library. The problem for Wiles was that on the margin, Fermat did not write the actual proof to the theorem, just that he had a brilliant idea which was too big for a margin to hold. Wiles had to rediscover Fermat's proof, however he had the information of the other mathematicians who attempted to solve this theorem over the centuries. Ever since Wiles was a teenager, he remained determined to solve this theorem. When solving the equation seemed impossible, a breakthrough by Ken Ribet linked Fermat's Last Theorem with The
Fermat's Last Theorem states that no three positive integers, for example (x,y,z), can satisfy the equation x^n+y^n=z^n if the integer value of n is greater than 2. Fermat's Last Theorem is an example a Diophantine equation(Weisstein). A Diophantine equation is a polynomial equation in which the solution must be an integers. These equations came from the works of Diophantus who was a mathematician who worked methods on solving these equations. Fermat's Last Theorem was based on Diophantus's work. A more common Diophantine equation would be Pythagorean Theorem, where the solution would be the the Pythagorean triples(Weisstein). However, unlike Pythagorean Theorem, Fermat's Last Theorem has no practical real world applications.
Fermat had scribbled on the margin of Arithmetica, the book that inspired his theorem, that he had a proof that would not fit on the margin of a book. From the 1600's-mid 1900's this proof remained unsolved. It was eventually solved by Andrew Wiles. Andrew Wiles as a child always loved math, he would always make up problems and challenge himself. His greatest challenge was when he stumbled upon Fermat's Last Theorem at the local library. The problem for Wiles was that on the margin, Fermat did not write the actual proof to the theorem, just that he had a brilliant idea which was too big for a margin to hold. Wiles had to rediscover Fermat's proof, however he had the information of the other mathematicians who attempted to solve this theorem over the centuries. Ever since Wiles was a teenager, he remained determined to solve this theorem. When solving the equation seemed impossible, a breakthrough by Ken Ribet linked Fermat's Last Theorem with The