Can anyone on tsr understand the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem?

Title says all.

(edited 10 years ago)

Are you crazy?

It's so easy! Here's my proof, some guy stole it though, he just forgot to credit me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiles'_proof_of_Fermat's_Last_Theorem

But in all seriousness, if someone on TSR could prove it, I don't think it would have taken so many years for the crème dela crème of mathematicians to prove it, and Andrew's proof was out of the blue anyway. You're talking a whole new level, which, I'm pretty sure you won't be finding here.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 2

amcor

OP

Original post by Phichi

Are you crazy?

It's so easy! Here's my proof, some guy stole it though, he just forgot to credit me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiles'_proof_of_Fermat's_Last_Theorem

But in all seriousness, if someone on TSR could prove it, I don't think it would have taken so many years for the creme dela crèmè of mathematicians to prove it, and Andrew's proof was out of the blue anyway.

I'm not saying they could prove it in a different way to Wiles. What I'm really asking is can anyone here understand the proof?

Not a chance brother

If anyone can DJ mayes can

Reply 5

Phichi

11

Original post by amcor

I'm not saying they could prove it in a different way to Wiles. What I'm really asking is can anyone here understand the proof?

Still no :3

Reply 6

amcor

OP

Maybe Wiles will stumble onto this thread you never know haha

Reply 7

Phichi

11

Original post by amcor

Maybe Wiles will stumble onto this thread you never know haha

One would hope he understands his own proof

Reply 8

KeepYourChinUp

17

I understand it, but never in a trillion years could I have figured it out.

For example note that an early attempt was to factor the equation

\left(z^{n/2}+y^{n/2}\right)\left(z^{n/2}-y^{n/2}\right)=x^n

and because it's an exact power you'll get

\left\{\begin{array}{l l}z^{n/2}+y^{n/2}=2^{n-1}p^n\\z^{n/2}-y^{n/2}=2q^n\end{array}\right\}

Now solve for y and z

\left\{\begin{array}{l l}z^{n/2}=2^{n-2}p^n+q^n\\y^{n/2}=2^{n-2}p^n-q^n\end{array}\right\}

\left\{\begin{array}{l l}z=(2^{n-2}p^n+q^n)^{2/n}\\y=(2^{n-2}p^n-q^n)^{2/n}\end{array}\right\}

This attempt doesn't go much further than this though as solutions to these equations in rational numbers are no easier to find that solutions to the original equation. Btw I think the original proof is over 100 pages long.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 9

platorepublic

I know this sounds outrageous, but I think there should be a more elegant proof of Fermat's last theorem that everyone could understand.

Reply 10

KeepYourChinUp

17

Original post by platorepublic

I know this sounds outrageous, but I think there should be a more elegant proof of Fermat's last theorem that everyone could understand.

You're right... that is outrageous. There are laymen proofs but they don't include any equations. The fact is that the proof is so difficult and long winded that there is no easy way. Even Einsteins proof of special relativity was only 26 pages long.

Fermat's last theorem is so complicated it's amazing he managed to keep track of his own work.

Reply 11

Zakee

If anyone can understand Fermat's Last Theorem, it's Dalek1099.

Reply 12

Hodor

3

Original post by KeepYourChinUp

You're right... that is outrageous. There are laymen proofs but they don't include any equations. The fact is that the proof is so difficult and long winded that there is no easy way. Even Einsteins proof of special relativity was only 26 pages long.

Fermat's last theorem is so complicated it's amazing he managed to keep track of his own work.

Do you really understand Wiles' proof?

Reply 13

KeepYourChinUp

17

Original post by Hodor

Do you really understand Wiles' proof?

Yes. I understood it after reading through his paper about 6 or 7 times trying desperately to digest the contents lol. I think understand is a tricky word, I understand the overal proof but how he came to that proof still makes my brain fry.

It's easily the hardest thing in mathematics / physics I've ever looked at.

Reply 14

amcor

OP

It looks so simple though. In my head at least it doesn't seem like the proof should be any harder than any number of things that can be proved on th back of an envelope.

Reply 15

LightBlueSoldier

14

As someone who has done the Cambridge maths course pretty successfully, I would say if I specifically studied it and the background material for say the next 5 years I could probably get a pretty good grasp of it. It's not really something you can pick up and read as there is a huge amount of assumed knowledge in it.

Reply 16

KeepYourChinUp

17

Original post by LightBlueSoldier

It's not really something you can pick up and read as there is a huge amount of assumed knowledge in it.

Exactly the difficulty I had.

Reply 17

notpeterlloyd

Yeah, it's quite simple.

His alqerithims are so perfectly engineer3d, if you use the gavifluoric method of substitution, you will soon find the lateral solution. Proffessor Dalek1099 taught me how it works, via pm. Best regards, definitely notpeterlloyd

Reply 18

Notnek

21

I heard an estimate from a university professor that less than 100 people living today fully understand the proof in its entirety.

The person in this thread who claimed they understand it... doesn't.

Reply 19

ThatPerson

18

Original post by notpeterlloyd

Yeah, it's quite simple.

His alqerithims are so perfectly engineer3d, if you use the gavifluoric method of substitution, you will soon find the lateral solution. Proffessor Dalek1099 taught me how it works, via pm. Best regards, definitely notpeterlloyd

Oh god, it's spreading. :eek:

Can anyone on tsr understand the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem?

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