Fermat's Last Theorem

High school (ages 12+)
Mathematics & Numbers

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/fermat-s-last-theorem

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the proposed by?Pierre de Fermat, circa 1637
2. What is the key mathematical fields developed?Algebraic number theory, theory of elliptic curves, modular forms, Galois theory
3. Why did it take so long to solve?It was a tricky puzzle that many people tried for over 350 years. Each new attempt made mathematicians invent new tools and learn more about math.
4. Who finally proved it and how?Andrew Wiles, a British mathematician, solved it in the 1990s. He used ideas about elliptic curves and modular forms, and worked alone for seven years.

Pythagorean Theorem: A fundamental geometric theorem stating a² + b² = c² for the sides of a right-angled triangle.
Algebraic Number Theory: A branch of mathematics that uses abstract algebra to study number theory concepts.
Elliptic Curve: A type of smooth, non-singular curve defined by a specific cubic equation, crucial in modern cryptography.
Modular Forms: Complex analytic functions with a high degree of symmetry, important in number theory and algebraic geometry.