Fermat's Last Theorem: The Story Of A Riddle That Confounded The World's Greatest Minds For 358 Years: The compelling biography and history of mathematical intellectual endeavour - Softcover

Singh, Simon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1841157910 ISBN 13: 9781841157917

Publisher: Fourth Estate Ltd, 2002

Synopsis

The compelling biography and history of mathematical intellectual endeavour

About this title

About the Author

Simon Singh received his PhD from the University of Cambridge. A former BBC producer, he directed the BAFTA Award-winning documentary film 'Fermat's Last Theorem', about Andrew Wiles and the world's most famous maths problem, and he wrote the book of the same title. He is also the author of 'The Code Book' and 'Big Bang'.

From the Back Cover

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.

Edition details

• Publisher: Fourth Estate Ltd
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1841157910
• ISBN 13: 9781841157917
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368