Talk:Fermat's Last Theorem
20th Century Solution not "particularly good"?[[edit source]]
I'm no mathematics expert, but I think that Doctor's 'real proof' refers to the fact that (as even Andrew Wiles himself has admitted) the 1995 solution to Fermat's Last Theorem is a 'modern' one - using mathematics (such as elliptic curves) that were not available in Fermat's time. Some Mathematicians are still looking for the 'original' proof that Fermat found.86.134.189.214 04:27, April 9, 2010 (UTC)
Quite so. The modern solution is far too contrived to match Fermat's note, even if the methods used were known to him. Some have said that Fermat actually made a mistake when he noted that down and that he didn't actually have a workable solution for the n version of the problem.
In any case, the Doctor's statement is quite correct, the real proof of Fermat's Last Theorem, if it does exist, has never turned up. Even given the secrecy practiced by the mathematicians of the period something should have turned up, thus it's likely the people to have spoken to about the matter is countable on one hand. 89.238.157.212 04:16, April 11, 2010 (UTC)
