Fermat's Last Theorem for Amateurs, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1999

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Language: English

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Fermat's Last Theorem for Amateurs
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407 p. · 15.5x23.5 cm · Paperback

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Fermat's last theorem for amateurs 1st ed 1999, corr. 2nd printing 2000
Publication date:
407 p. · 15.6x23.4 cm · Hardback
In 1995, Andrew Wiles completed a proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. Although this was certainly a great mathematical feat, one shouldn't dismiss earlier attempts made by mathematicians and clever amateurs to solve the problem. In this book, aimed at amateurs curious about the history of the subject, the author restricts his attention exclusively to elementary methods that have produced rich results.
The Problem.- Special Cases.- 4 Interludes.- Algebraic Restrictions on Hypothetical Solutions.- Germain’s Theorem.- Interludes 5 and 6.- Arithmetic Restrictions on Hypothetical Solutions and on the Exponent.- Interludes 7 and 8.- Reformulations, Consequences, and Criteria.- Interludes 9 and 10.- The Local and Modular Fermat Problem.- Epilogue.

Ribenboim's presentation of attempts to solve Fermat's Last Theorem sheds new light on the possibilities and power of the language of mathematics

This book is intended for amateurs. All results presented were obtained with exclusively elementary methods; proofs are given in detail with minimal prerequisites

Original features are the ten interludes, devoted to important topics of elementary number theory, thus making this book self-contained

The Epilogue is a serious attempt to render accessible the strategy of Wiles recent proof of Fermat's Last Theorem, a great mathematical feat