Math: Pythagorean triples and Fermat’s Last Theorem

Tutoring math, ideas are always important. The tutor mentions Fermat’s Last Theorem.

A Pythagorean triple is a set of three integers that satisfy

a²+b²=c²

There are infinite Pythagorean triples. However, there are no corresponding sets of integers for higher n:

aⁿ+bⁿ≠cⁿ, n>2 (Fermat’s Last Theorem)

For instance, three integers such that

a³+b³=c³

can’t be found.

Back in ’94 I took a Number Theory class: then, Fermat’s Last Theorem remained an unproven curiosity. Andrew Wiles may already have known how to prove it: apparently he secretly worked on the proof for seven years, revealing it in ’95.

I’ve always wondered what my Number Theory professor said when he next taught the class:)

Source:

quantamagazine.org