Fermat's Enigma

The Epic Quest to Solve the World's Greatest Mathematical Problem

By Simon Singh | Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

About the book

xn + yn = zn, where n represents 3, 4, 5, ...no solution

\"I have discovered a truly marvelous demonstration of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain.\"

With these words, the seventeenth-century French mathematician Pierre de Fermat threw down the gauntlet to future generations.  What came to be known as Fermat's Last Theorem looked simple; proving it, however, became the Holy Grail of mathematics, baffling its finest minds for more than 350 years.  In Fermat's Enigma--based on the author's award-winning documentary film, which aired on PBS's \"Nova\"--Simon Singh tells the astonishingly entertaining story of the pursuit of that grail, and the lives that were devoted to, sacrificed for, and saved by it.  Here is a mesmerizing tale of heartbreak and mastery that will forever change your feelings about mathematics.

Editions of Fermat's Enigma

Paperback
ISBN 9780385493628
EBook
ISBN 9780525435327

Read an Excerpt

xn + yn = zn, where n represents 3, 4, 5, ...no solution

\"I have discovered a truly marvelous demonstration of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain.\"

With these words, the seventeenth-century French mathematician Pierre de Fermat threw down the gauntlet to future generations.  What came to be known as Fermat's Last Theorem looked simple; proving it, however, became the Holy Grail of mathematics, baffling its finest minds for more than 350 years.  In Fermat's Enigma--based on the author's award-winning documentary film, which aired on PBS's \"Nova\"--Simon Singh tells the astonishingly entertaining story of the pursuit of that grail, and the lives that were devoted to, sacrificed for, and saved by it.  Here is a mesmerizing tale of heartbreak and mastery that will forever change your feelings about mathematics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fermat's Enigma about?

xn + yn = zn, where n represents 3, 4, 5, ...no solution

\"I have discovered a truly marvelous demonstration of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain.\"

With these words, the seventeenth-century French mathematician Pierre de Fermat threw down the gauntlet to future generations.  What came to be known as Fermat's Last Theorem looked simple; proving it, however, became the Holy Grail of mathematics, baffling its finest minds for more than 350 years.  In Fermat's Enigma--based on the author's award-winning documentary film, which aired on PBS's \"Nova\"--Simon Singh tells the astonishingly entertaining story of the pursuit of that grail, and the lives that were devoted to, sacrificed for, and saved by it.  Here is a mesmerizing tale of heartbreak and mastery that will forever change your feelings about mathematics.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Fermat's Enigma?

Mathematics and Science > Mathematics > History of mathematics

Where can I read a sample of Fermat's Enigma?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780385493628

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Fermat's Enigma?

Simon Singh

Who is the Publisher of the book Fermat's Enigma?

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Fermat's Enigma is available as paperback(ISBN 9780385493628) and ebook(ISBN 9780525435327)

Where can I buy Fermat's Enigma online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Fermat's Enigma from below

Where can I buy Fermat's Enigma?