Fermat’s Last Theorem
Simon Singh
The extraordinary story of the solving of a puzzle that has confounded mathematicians since the 17th century. The solution of Fermat’s Last Theorem is the most important mathematical development of the 20th century.In 1963 a schoolboy browsing in his local library stumbled across the world’s greatest mathematical problem: Fermat’s Last Theorem, a puzzle that every child can understand but which has baffled mathematicians for over 300 years. Aged just ten, Andrew Wiles dreamed that he would crack it. Wiles’s lifelong obsession with a seemingly simple challenge set by a long-dead Frenchman is an emotional tale of sacrifice and extraordinary determination. In the end, Wiles was forced to work in secrecy and isolation for seven years, harnessing all the power of modern maths to achieve his childhood dream. Many before him had tried and failed, including a 18-century philanderer who was killed in a duel. An 18-century Frenchwoman made a major breakthrough in solving the riddle, but she had to attend maths lectures at the Ecole Polytechnique disguised as a man since women were forbidden entry to the school. A remarkable story of human endeavour and intellectual brilliance over three centuries, Fermat ‘s Last Theorem will fascinate both specialist and general readers.
SIMON SINGH
Fermat’s Last Theorem
THE STORY OF A RIDDLE THAT CONFOUNDED THE
WORLD’S GREATEST MINDS FOR 358 YEARS
Copyright (#ulink_e228dbbd-1600-5e3a-a2cc-4af1fbfe0c77)
William Collins
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First published in paperback by Fourth Estate in 2002 (reprinted 4 times)
First published in Great Britain in 1997 by Fourth Estate
Copyright © 1997 by Simon Singh
Foreword copyright © 1997 by John Lynch
Line illustrations by Jed Mugford
The right of Simon Singh to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9781841157917
Ebook Edition © NOVEMBER 2012 ISBN: 9780007381999
Version: 2017-08-14
Dedication (#uc600590b-13b7-5e89-85f9-997c69c05a60)
In memory
of
Pakhar Singh Birring
CONTENTS
Cover (#ufb5edb55-19ca-5056-b817-8b6437426998)
Title Page (#u83f4818c-c3b1-5e18-aa28-0fa327219616)
Copyright (#uaa6534fa-68f6-5e09-b9d6-cd65d2a3bd4d)
Dedication (#u9f2c91ce-717f-50a0-8e40-46e2960f120a)
Foreword (#uef2d83c4-b00a-5e8e-a712-c49230bc3ef7)
Preface (#u69086df3-aefe-53f3-99f4-8ec1efd9983a)
1 - ‘I Think I’ll Stop Here’ (#u890812f6-46d7-50f6-951b-57d4777d1b4f)
2 - The Riddler (#u06677994-f837-5bd0-be53-be6ef376a28b)
3 - A Mathematical Disgrace (#litres_trial_promo)
4 - Into Abstraction (#litres_trial_promo)
5 - Proof by Contradiction (#litres_trial_promo)
6 - The Secret Calculation (#litres_trial_promo)
7 - A Slight Problem (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue - Grand Unified Mathematics (#litres_trial_promo)
Keep Reading (#litres_trial_promo)
Appendices (#litres_trial_promo)
Suggestions for Further Reading (#litres_trial_promo)
Index (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)
Also by the Author (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
