Fermat's Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem

by Amir D. Aczel

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1568580770
• ISBN13: 9781568580777
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Well Done

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.

What, an interesting Math book!?

I would have thought the only way to make a Math book interesting would be to have it be a pop up book where the Numbers would start attacking you or something. Let's face it, math blows bit time. This makes Aczel's work even more amazing. This relatively small book reads even quicker than its size. I completed it in one day - a weekday, with a full day of work no less. Akzel's turns the proof of a 300-year-old equation into a great work of literature. He goes through the proof in a unique way, by describing the history of each part of the proof chronologically. He give mathematical history lessons stretching from Babylonian times to the present day in a way that any layman can understand.Even if you have no interest in numbers or equations, this book will fascinate you. It helps me understand why professors devote their whole lives to mathematics. Heck, it even got me a little interested in Math as well (of course I snapped out of once the Simpsons came on).I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Some of us actually liked it!

From about 2/3's of the reveiws, one would presume this to be the worst history of mathematics ever written however, I found it completely enjoyable. I have avoided math all my life, and learned more from this book that I did in high school and college combined. The style is simple enough for me to tie mathematics in with the real world, and fun enough for me to persue other books on mathematical history, as well as venture back to math class to learn more. I do question the validity of some of the historical statements: beans and testicles aside, (editing could have been a little tighter,) this book has started me on a wonderful journey. I am no mathematician, but at least I have a fighting chance at comming to grips with it due to this light introduction.

The best for a high school student!

I saw this one at the bookstore, and being very interested in Fermat's Last Theorem, I got it right away! I could have made a mistake, since I was only then on the final grade of High School, but I found out I was completely right in buying it! It is mostly text than math formulas and graphs (actually, it only has 4 or 5 of those), so it doesn't confuse the not-so-into-maths reader with hard(or even impossible)-to-follow formulas. Instead, this is the whole history of how Fermat reached to his Last Theorem, and from then on, what mathematicians tried to do to prove (or disprove) it. It focuses as much as necessary to the lives of the mathematicians that took part in the whole quest, and describes in detail (which though everyone can understand!) what old and new branches of maths were used to solve the ancient problem! If you are at all interested in maths or its history, you must read this book!

From pyramids to outer space by way of mathematics.

This book will be enjoyed as much by history buffs as it will by math students. Amir Aczel has done a splendid job in taking this complex mathematical puzzle and presenting it in a way that can be understood by most people having a basic understanding of high school algebra and geometry. As he takes us through the history of mathematics from the bronze age up through the end of the twentieth century, you develop a sense of respect for the many young scholars and how they obsessed for years over complex equations to prove or disprove conjectures and theorems. At times, you even feel the anxiety of these mathematicians who sometimes competed against one another to solve a problem and gain prominence. The existence of a secret society of mathematicians in the early days shows how lucrative mathematics was for those who possessed the talent. The discussion of the Fibonacci sequence of numbers really intrigued me. It reveals much about nature and only reinforces my belief in a divine creation. This is not an entertaining book, but presents a certain amount of mystery and intrigue that makes it hard to put down.