In number theory, Fermat's Last Theorem (sometimes called Fermat's conjecture, especially in older texts) 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 two.
This theorem was first conjectured by Pierre de Fermat in 1637, famously in the margin of a copy of Arithmetica where he claimed he had a proof that was too large to fit in the margin. No successful proof was published until 1995 despite the efforts of countless mathematicians during the 358 intervening years. The unsolved problem stimulated the development of algebraic number theory in the 19th century and the proof of the modularity theorem in the 20th century. It is among the most famous theorems in the history of mathematics and prior to its 1995 proof was in the Guinness Book of World Records for "most difficult mathematical problems".
Read more about Fermat's Last Theorem: History, Fermat's Conjecture, Proofs For Specific Exponents, Sophie Germain, Ernst Kummer and The Theory of Ideals, Mordell Conjecture, Computational Studies, Connection With Elliptic Curves, Wiles's General Proof, Did Fermat Possess A General Proof?, Monetary Prizes, In Popular Culture
Famous quotes containing the word theorem:
“To insure the adoration of a theorem for any length of time, faith is not enough, a police force is needed as well.”
—Albert Camus (19131960)