The Google Doodle today celebrates the 410th birthday of Pierre de Fermat. I’d guess that most people fall into two camps: those that know of Fermat and his famous last theorem, and those who don’t, but recognize the very famous name.
Fermat was a lawyer by trade, but had a passion for mathematics which led to several developments and discoveries, the most famous of which is Fermat’s Last Theorem formulated when he was 36 in 1637. The theorem states that in the equation an + bn = cn, if a, b, and c are positive numbers and not equal, then no integer greater than two for n can satisfy the equation.
The theorem remained without a successful proof for 358 years, which got it the title of most difficult math problem as decided by the Guinness Book of World Records. Then in 1995 a proof was produced by British mathematician Andrew Wiles who built on the work of many other mathematicians before him.
While Fermat will always be most well-known for that theorem, his work extends far beyond it. Isaac Newton referred to Fermat’s work when discussing his early ideas on calculus, he invented analytic geometry, worked on light refraction and optics, he researched the weight of the earth, and through correspondence with Pascal, had a direct impact on the theory of probability.
It’s not surprising to find he is classed as one of the leading mathematicians of his time.
Read more about Pierre de Fermat and Fermat’s Last Theorem
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