In defense of Fermat

Les Schaffer schaffer at optonline.net
Tue Nov 19 05:02:02 PST 2002


jks wrote:


> About eight years ago. Took a huge computer algorith attacking it by
> brute force. No wonder Fermat couldn't fit the proof in the
> margin. jks

i wonder if you are confusing something else, like the 4-color map problem, with Wile's proof of Fermat's.

my understanding is that very little effort by Wile's was based on computer algorithms. tho i am not so clear about the proof of several supporting theorems done by others which cleared the way for Wiles.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/proof/wiles.html

http://www.mbay.net/~cgd/flt/flt08.htm

les schaffer



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