Fermat's Last Theorem for Amateurs [Hardcover]

Paulo Ribenboim (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0387985085 | ISBN-13: 978-0387985084 | Publication Date: February 11, 1999 | Edition: Corrected

In 1995, Andrew Wiles completed a proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. Although this was certainly a great mathematical feat, one shouldn't dismiss earlier attempts made by mathematicians and clever amateurs to solve the problem. In this book, aimed at amateurs curious about the history of the subject, the author restricts his attention exclusively to elementary methods that have produced rich results.

Editorial Reviews

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From the reviews:

MATHEMATICAL REVIEWS

"The history of elementary approaches to Fermat is very rich indeed, and Ribenboim has arranged these approaches in a way that makes them accessible to interested readers without extensive mathematical backgrounds…both readable and fairly comprehensive. This book would likely be of great interest to an enthusiastic undergraduate with a basic knowledge of rings and fields. In addition to describing the history of one of the great problems in number theory, the book provides a gentle and well-motivated introduction to some important ideas in modern number theory…any reader who spends a few hours with this book is guaranteed to learn something new and interesting about Fermat’s last theorem."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 441 pages
• Publisher: Springer; Corrected edition (February 11, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387985085
• ISBN-13: 978-0387985084
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,781,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "Amateur" mathematicians, that is !, July 1, 2001

By 

Daryl Anderson (Trumansburg, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fermat's Last Theorem for Amateurs (Hardcover)

If, like me, you were fascinated to hear that Fermat's so-called "last theorem" had been proven in 1995, then read Simon Singh or Amir Aczel's books popularizing the proof in outline, you probably wanted something more.

If, like me, you are a person who took some math in college, enjoys recreational mathematics books of the Douglas Hofstadter and Ian Stewart genre, and even sometimes picks up the odd number-theory book, you might consider yourself an "amateur."

If...if... this might seem like the book for you. I'd suggest that its not.

The mathematics in this book and its level of presentation was simply impenetrable by me. Not slow going... "no" going. That's frustrating to admit, but in a way fine, since it affirms of my admiration at a distance of the work that professional mathematicians do. I have seen many cited who state that Wiles' proof is simply beyond the ken of even 95% of working mathematicians. I believe this book must really be intended to serve some fraction of that group. Perhaps within the fold of mathematics these would consider themselves "amateurs". My two stars are offered only for them.

The book is simply not for the "lay" amateur. And Ribenboim's titling of it suggests that he does not even know that this lower caste, containing those of us who enjoy recreational mathematics and would describe ourselves as "amateurs", even exists. We know we exist as something mathematically distinct from the general population by the simple fact of the universally raised eyebrows that confront any mention of our interest in mathematics. Nevertheless, like any other species in a niche, we will have to continue to feed on a sparse supply of intellectual sustenance and learn to avoid the over-rich and indigestible fare of the higher forms.

Finally, if you haven't read Singh or Aczel I'd offer the former 5 stars and the latter 3 but recommend both. A truly fascinating story.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Difficult book but great topic coverage, September 4, 2002

By 

Larry A Freeman (Fremont, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fermat's Last Theorem for Amateurs (Hardcover)

Solid coverage of proofs relating to Fermat's Last Theorem up to Kummer's Theory. You will find proofs for n=2, n=3, n=4, n=5, and n=7. Requires solid background in Algebraic Number Theory. For example, you should already have a good understanding of the Quadratic Law of Reciprocity, Quadratic Fields, and Congruences. If you don't, I recommend Elementary Number Theory for Congruences and the Quadratic Law of Reciprocity and Stark's An Introduction to Number Theory for Quadratic Fields. I would also recommend starting out with Edward's Book on Fermat's Last Theorem which includes detailed coverage of Kummer's Theory.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellant work, good for any serious study of FLT., August 12, 1999

By 

MICHAEL WILLIAMSON - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fermat's Last Theorem for Amateurs (Hardcover)

I am a math instructor and graduate student at PVAMU, and am working on a thesis detailing the history of attempts to prove and the Wiles proof of FLT. The text was easily readable and the proofs were very well done. I was able to follow the logic and math of all the presented proofs very well.