Fermat's Last Theorem

Fermat's last theorem
Currently holding the world record for longest standing math problem ever, Fermat’s last theorem went unsolved for 365 years. Fermat's last theorem was one of the largest white whales in the study of math. Over the centuries, thousands were puzzled by the impossible problem. From its conception to its solution, Fermat's last theorem was one of the most difficult to solve yet easy to understand problems in mathematics. First, I will discuss the theorem and how it was introduced to the mathematics community. Second, I will discuss some of the influences Fermat's last theorem has had over its lengthy history. Third, I will discuss how solution finally came about.

Fermat was a seventeenth century judge who spent his spare
Many of them have interesting stories, but one was particularly memorable. Over a century after Fermat a mathematician named Paul Wolfskehl was on the verge of suicide. Wolfskehl had set his death for precisely midnight at which time he would shoot himself through the head. He decided to pass the last few hours reading about the latest on developments in Fermat's theorem. As he read Wolfskehl began to get an idea for a solution to the theorem. He began to explore this new approach to the solution. By the time he realized this new avenue was a dead end the appointed time of Wolfskehl's demise had long passed. Wolfskehl went on to continue study in mathematics, saying that Fermat's theorem reminded him of the beauty in number theory. Wolfskehl went on to change his will saying that whoever solved the problem 100,000 the equivalent of two million in today's currency. After his death the Wolfskehl prize was announced. In the first year of the prize 621 proofs were sent in to be evaluated and all of them were flawed. Mathematical historian Howard Eves once said, "Fermat's Last Theorem has the peculiar distinction of being the mathematical problem for which the greatest number of incorrect proofs have been published." (Howard Eves) While those proofs were wrong a correct proof was just over the
Secondly, I discussed the influence of the theorem over the ages. Finally, I discussed how this theorem was finally solved by a person inspired by the theorem to enter mathematics. Fermat's last theorem was one of the most difficult yet easy to understand problems in mathematics. When most people think of math they think about numbers and difficult classes in school, but to those who understand the nature of math there is so much more to it than what the surface shows, like a simple theorem that couldn't be solved for hundreds of