Fermat's Last Theorem

Singh, Simon

ISBN 10: 1857025210 / ISBN 13: 9781857025217

Published by Fourth Estate, Limited, 1997

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 1857025210-VB

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Fermat's Last Theorem
• Publisher: Fourth Estate, Limited
• Publication Date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1857025210
• ISBN 13: 9781857025217
• Binding: hardcover
• Condition: As New

About this title

Synopsis

When Cambridge mathematician Andrew Wiles announced a solution for Fermat's last theorem in 1993, it electrified the world of mathematics. After a flaw was discovered in the proof, Wiles had to work for another year--he had already laboured in solitude for seven years--to establish that he had solved the 350-year-old problem. Simon Singh's book is a lively, comprehensible explanation of Wiles's work and of the colourful history that has build up around Fermat's last theorem over the years. The book contains some problems that offer a taste for the maths, but it also includes limericks to give a feeling for the quirkier side of mathematicians.

Review

When Andrew Wiles of Princeton University announced a solution of Fermat's last theorem in 1993, it electrified the world of mathematics. After a flaw was discovered in the proof, Wiles had to work for another year--he had already labored in solitude for seven years--to establish that he had solved the 350-year-old problem. Simon Singh's book is a lively, comprehensible explanation of Wiles's work and of the star-, trauma-, and wacko-studded history of Fermat's last theorem. Fermat's Enigma contains some problems that offer a taste of the math, but it also includes limericks to give a feeling for the goofy side of mathematicians.