Fermat’s Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem by Amir D Aczel (PDF)

Description

Over three hundred years ago, a French scholar scribbled a simple theorem in the margin of a book. It would become the world’s most baffling mathematical mystery. Simple, elegant, and utterly impossible to prove, Fermat’s Last Theorem captured the imaginations of amateur and professional mathematicians for over three centuries. For some it became a wonderful passion. For others it was an obsession that led to deceit, intrigue, or insanity. In a volume filled with the clues, red herrings, and suspense of a mystery novel, Dr. Amir Aczel reveals the previously untold story of the people, the history, and the cultures that lie behind this scientific triumph. From formulas devised for the farmers of ancient Babylonia to the dramatic proof of Fermat’s theorem in 1993, this extraordinary work takes us along on an exhilarating intellectual treasure hunt. Revealing the hidden mathematical order of the natural world in everything from stars to sunflowers, Fermat’s Last Theorem brilliantly combines philosophy and hard science with investigative journalism. The result: a real-life detective story of the intellect, at once intriguing, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review “Aczel does a superb job…A mathematical bonbon of a book.””Aczel maps the strange, beautiful byways of modern mathematical thought in ways the layperson can grasp.””It employs a staggering range of abstract devices, which Mr. Aczel is a dab hand at explaining: Abelian varieties, Galois representations, automorphic forms, and on and on.” About the Author Amir D. Aczel, a visiting scholar in the history of science at Harvard, earned both his B.A. in mathematics and master of sciences degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon. His books have been translated into fifteen languages. He lives outside Boston.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Dr. Aczel sadly fell victim to the claim by a hotel in Syracuse, Sicily that they had re-discovered Archimedes’ tomb during construction excavation (did they?…. the information available on the internet about this, and even the information provided by Cicero, centuries ago, is scant and sketchy). He refers twice to “algebraic varieties”, but neither indexes them nor explains what they are except to briefly and casually mention how they relate to Andrew Wiles’ discovery of a proof of Fermat’s (marginal) Theorem. The book contains much information about steps which were attained over centuries of mathematical advances or stagnation (depending which century one references) without discussing relevant details except in the most cursory ways (when he does discuss them). Just about the only mathematical equations in the text are the statement of the nth power equation in three unknowns being researched, and the fundamental sine and cosine right unit triangle identity, leaving the interested reader with some mathematical background completely unsatisfied regarding the details of the proof (is God or the Devil in the details? Or Both? Or neither?). While an overview of the history of the necessary math is present, with some interesting details of the lives of Galois and Shimura (are they accurate if the author believes hotel advertising hoop-la?) and numerous others, giving a very humanistic orientation to the text, the discussion of the mathematics leading up to the proof is far too sketchy to satisfy anyone with a mathematical background beyond high school mathematics. Note that this book is appropriately categorized by the publisher as history, not as mathematics.

⭐This is not a book for mathematicians. It is a book for the curious mind. In the 17th century, Fermat wrote in the margin of a book that x^n + y^n = z^n has no whole number solution for n > 2 (^ is for exponent). People like me have no interest in that at all.What tickled me as a teenager is that Fermat added that he had found a marvelous proof of it but he did not have enough space to write it in the margin of the book. You would think that soon after he wrote this, around 1637, somebody would discover what that marvelous proof was, but nobody did. It tickled me: the formula is simple enough. For over three centuries, it tickled a lot of people, mathematicians who tried to find the proof and couldn’t. The proof was found in 1995 by mathematician Andrew Wiles. It is very long and complex and involves 20th century mathematics.Because it had tickled many people like me, it made news in all the press. I don’t know if it is important, but it certainly is satisfying.What the book tries to do is to tell us what kind of math is needed to solve this pesky problem, so Aczel briefly introduces a series of mathematicians and mathematical concepts, starting with Pythagoras and the square of the hypotenuse. There is nothing complex in the book, it has warmth throughout, which is very rare for a book on math. We are carried very smoothly towards the kind of mind we would need to find a solution. On the way, we are introduced to the usual conflicts about who did what. It is all fairly decent.I enjoyed the book. It is written by a friendly person who takes us by the hand and says : come on, this so much fun, let me show you how it was done.”I have no desire to know more than this, so the book is perfect for me. Most of the 2 stars come from people who wanted something else.

⭐An ancient mathematical problem, claimed to be solved by a French mathematician, Fermat, over 300 years ago, but no proof survived. This problem known as Fermat’s last theorem still stymied modern mathematicians until Andrew Wiles armed with modern mathematical techniques and theory demonstrated a proof in 1994. This is one of Amir Aczel’s better books. A balanced book that succeeds in giving the reader a general idea of the mathematics involved. Mr. Aczel’s explanation of a difficult field of math are very good, and keeps the reader’s interest. This author in many of his other works usually expands his text to the point where the story does not agree with the title or purpose of the book, This time he got it right. A short book, fast paced, occasional tidbits of interesting facts to setup a historical background of the problem and its solution. It finishes with the trials and tribulations and eventual success of Andrew Wiles, a mathematician turned into a recluse being consumed and driven to solve this secret.

⭐Aczel attempts to convey the mystery and history of theoretical mathematics in this book around Fermat’s Last Theorem. The book itself is a short and relatively easy read. However, trying to blast through some 2000 years of theoretical mathematics in a way that the average reader can understand is a pretty tall order. Unfortunately, the book doesn’t set up the theorem well, nor does it really do a good job in explaining why it was so difficult to solve. The key players, perhaps outside Fermat himself, are not well developed, and the conclusion of the book seems to race to a finish line without building up the underlying story of the solving of the theorem as a story.If you have some interest in the topic, the book might be OK. The mathematician will not find it deep enough, nor will the reader looking for an entertaining read. Instead, it is a superficial look at what may be one of the great achievements of 20th century mathematics.

⭐Mr. Aczel is to be commended for a nice quick tour through mathematics and Fermat’s Last Theorem; for a math book it is quite a page turner. Aczel’s insight on the inner-world of world-class mathematicians is informative and entertaining—once again, for a math book a surprise. The publisher included diagrams and photos, and while a trade paperback, the quality was good enough to convey the story. If you’re looking for a quick primer of math history, this book may be for you—as according to Aczel the roots of Fermat’s Theorem has roots back to Pythagoras. Very good book and recommended.

⭐Very good group focusing on the human aspects of scientific research

⭐Not bad, I like vey much other books by this author, but for Fermat’s Last Theorem I prefer the book by Simon Singh, moredetailed and more mathematical (but I am a mathematician!)

⭐This is a treasure from a great teacher of mathematics too soon taken from us.The package & contents arrived undamaged and in perfect condition.

⭐Nice

⭐C’était dans les temp, je suis satiisfait

⭐

⭐A fascinating story well told and explained.

Keywords

Free Download Fermat’s Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem in PDF format
Fermat’s Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem PDF Free Download
Download Fermat’s Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem 2007 PDF Free
Fermat’s Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem 2007 PDF Free Download
Download Fermat’s Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem PDF
Free Download Ebook Fermat’s Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem