Math 2.0

Number theory Diophantine equations Theorem

Fermat's Last Theorem

Builds on Diophantine equation

Statement

Let nn be an integer with n>2n > 2. Then there are no positive integers aa, bb and cc with an+bn=cna^n + b^n = c^n.

Remarks

For n=2n = 2 there are infinitely many solutions, the Pythagorean triples. It is enough to prove the theorem for n=4n = 4 and for each odd prime nn, because each n>2n > 2 has one of these as a divisor. The cases n = 4 and n = 3 have elementary proofs.

History

Pierre de Fermat stated the theorem around 1637 and wrote that he had a proof. Andrew Wiles gave the first proof in 1994, with a step completed jointly with Richard Taylor. The proof was published in 1995. The proof uses the modularity of semistable elliptic curves.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 2 pages in order. The foundations come first.

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Each page uses the pages above it. The colour of the bar on a box shows how strong the evidence is, and the box also gives it as text. The list has the same pages.
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  1. Diophantine equation concept
  2. Fermat's Last Theorem statement

Where this leads

1 page builds on this one.

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermat%27s_Last_Theorem, lead section
  2. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermat%27s_Last_Theorem, Wiles's general proof
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Tag0Y5X3SDBCZ
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Aliasesflt
Kindstatement, theorem
WritingW1 stated
MSC11D41
StatusThis copy of the site has no build data. Run m2 status 0Y5X3SDBCZ.
UsesDiophantine equation
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