Fermat's Last Theorem (1996) Part 4 of 5

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• Fermat's
• Last
• Theorem
• 1996
• part
• 4

[jbrown677]

I am somewhat math illiterate so I have a general question. Is it reasonable to say that theoretically there could be several different proofs to this theorem?

[raskolnikov1873]

@jbrown677 Yes, it is quite reasonable to say that! Your question is a nice entry point into the aesthetic and creative beauty of mathematics. It's not unreasonable to say that some future genius will find a more elegant (and shorter) proof. However, because a proof exists, I doubt that anyone would devote his or her precious time to improving upon it, but I could be wrong. 

[mcshadypies]

This video makes me realise how much I have to learn... problem is you'd have to study for about 30 years just to understand 1 part of this proof, let alone how the parts all fit together!

[lg123xyz]

Just when you think you're smart... someone makes you look like you know nothing.

[hanzwan]

@kiy1999 thank you for your reply. I Agree with most of what you say. I recently found out which error Fermat probably made. In his proof he probably used the unique factorization of Q (the rationals) It was only later that mathematicians, surprisingly, disproved the unique factorization of the Ring Q (Sqn (N) ) .

[kiy1999]

@hanzwan There have been a number of examples when a person's intelligence exceeds his time. Even if it wasn't as "advanced" doesn't mean it isn't as true. There were astronomers that had sun disk with detailed and extremely accurate descriptions of the night sky that showed a meteor that might've crashed into the sun. It is very possible that Fermat had an answer. Of course it is also possible he didn't and made this question just to stun mathematicians for as long as possible, like a jerk.

[richardcadbury]

This makes so many things seem so much easier.

[h0wud0in2]

@hanzwan well he was not as they say in the end of the documentary. my theory is he just realised how hard this problem was and wrote that note to be remembered...t hats what I would have done. Plus that one entry seemed more like a diary entry than a note. I mean who talks to themselves in their notes? "I have a brilliant proof but this margin is too small to contain it" Plus you dont write "this margin is too small" in a small margin.

Just my thoughts

[h0wud0in2]

@lg123xyz be patient. everybody gets a shot

[hanzwan]

What I as a math student dont get is: Fermat said he had been able to prove this theorem in the 16/1700's, however, mathematics wasn't even nearly as 'advanced' as it is now, to me it might make sense to say a talented first year math students would be able to construct a prove using only 17/18th century IF it existed. However, since none has been able to do so and the only prove, 350± years later, uses sophisticated recent math concepts/proof, I wonder if Fermat was at all capable of proving it

[fuckoffplan]

one thumb down!? Fermat wathed this?

[BabyNeuron]

4.28 o.o