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Fermat's Last Theorem

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Philip Carter

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Jul 14, 2003, 3:25:56 AM7/14/03
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Please remind me of the name of the person who solved Fermat's Last
Theorem a few years back, also the name of his best-selling book on the
subject.

Also, was his proof fully accepted, and was the prize, established in
1908, duly claimed?
Philip Carter

Visit: The Enigmatic World of Philip Carter
http://www.knowl.demon.co.uk

Andrewr At Work

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Jul 14, 2003, 5:18:36 AM7/14/03
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"Philip Carter" <phi...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1c48vKAEslE$Ew...@knowl.demon.co.uk

>
> Please remind me of the name of the person who solved Fermat's Last
> Theorem a few years back, also the name of his best-selling book on the
> subject.

Andrew Wiles solved the problem, but the best-selling book was "Fermat's
Last Theorem" by Simon Singh.

I'd also recommend "The Code Book" by Singh.

> Also, was his proof fully accepted, and was the prize, established in
> 1908, duly claimed?

Dunno, sorry.

AndrewR


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Hein Hundal

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Jul 14, 2003, 7:25:55 AM7/14/03
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> "Philip Carter" <phi...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1c48vKAEslE$Ew...@knowl.demon.co.uk
>
>>Also, was his proof fully accepted, and was the prize, established in
>>1908, duly claimed?

Wiles first proof was not accepted, but a later proof was accepted.

Danny Kodicek

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Jul 14, 2003, 8:10:30 AM7/14/03
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"Hein Hundal" <hund...@aldelphia.net> wrote in message
news:7rwQa.430$KZ.1...@news1.news.adelphia.net...

(and the prize claimed, just to make it clear...)

Danny


William Springer

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Jul 14, 2003, 3:06:48 PM7/14/03
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Andrewr At Work wrote:
> "Philip Carter" <phi...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1c48vKAEslE$Ew...@knowl.demon.co.uk
>
>
>>Please remind me of the name of the person who solved Fermat's Last
>>Theorem a few years back, also the name of his best-selling book on the
>>subject.
>
>
> Andrew Wiles solved the problem, but the best-selling book was "Fermat's
> Last Theorem" by Simon Singh.
>
> I'd also recommend "The Code Book" by Singh.


I second that; Singh's books are extremely readable.

Dave Smith

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Jul 14, 2003, 4:16:12 PM7/14/03
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I agree that Singh's books are very readable.

You might consider solving the Cipher Challenge at the end of his "The Code
Book". Although the $10,000 prize has already been claimed, solving each
stage of the Cipher Challenge is an interesting exercise in cryptanalysis.
Thousands of people exchanged ideas for solving the ten stages during the
year or so after the book was published. A couple of hundred of people
solved the first nine stages. And a team of graduate students was first to
solve the tenth stage. The first eight stages can be solved on your desktop,
and require reasonable understanding of classical cryptanalysis. Solving the
final two stages requires more computer power than is commonly found on your
desktop.

"William Springer" <spo...@nospam.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Ay-dnVuO_ev...@comcast.com...

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