Fermat's Last Theorem

Alternative forms

• Fermat's last theorem

Etymology

Named after French mathematician Pierre de Fermat (1607-1665), who famously claimed to have a proof, although it was not successfully proven until 1994 by Andrew Wiles.

Proper noun

Fermat's Last Theorem

1. (number theory) The theorem that the Diophantine equation aⁿ + bⁿ = cⁿ has no solutions for positive integers a, b, c, n, where n > 2.
   • 1872, William Thomas Brande, editor, A Dictionary of Science, Literature, & Art‎:

     Another theorem, distinguished as Fermat's last Theorem, has obtained great celebrity on account of the numerous attempts that have been made to demonstrate it.

   • 2002, Peter Hilton, Derek Holton, Jean Pedersen, Mathematical Vistas: From a Room with Many Windows, Springer, page 23,

     A lot has been written about Fermat's Last Theorem since its proof was announced in 1993.

   • 2002, Brendan Kelly, Algebra with the TI-83 Plus & TI-83 Plus SE, Brendan Kelly Publishing, page 36,

     It appeared that Dr. Wiles had proved Fermat's Last Theorem, the most famous conjecture in Number Theory which had eluded the greatest mathematicians for over 350 years!

   • 2007, Eli Maor, The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000-year History, Princeton University Press, page 1,

     Then, almost casually, Dr. Wiles ended his lecture with these words: "And by the way, this means that Fermat's Last Theorem was true. Q.E.D."