How was Fermat's Last Theorem Proved?

  • Thread starter Victor Sorokine
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In summary, the conversation discusses a lemma that could potentially aid in proving Fermat's last theorem. However, a counterexample is presented, leading to corrections and further discussion about the accuracy of the lemma. The lemma is then presented with its proof, followed by an elementary proof of Fermat's last theorem using the lemma.
  • #1
Victor Sorokine
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Interesting lemma

If P.Ferma knew the proof of the following lemma
"Lemma. If numbers a, b, c, have no common factor, numbers c-a and c-b are also mutually-prime and n is odd, then the numbers (c^n-a^n)/(c-a) and (c^n-b^n)/(c-b) are also mutually-prime",
then with its aid it is possible to briefly and simply prove Fermat's last theorem.

Actually, in the Fermat’s equality (where numbers a, b, c have no common factor and n is odd) numbers c-a and c-b, obviously, mutually-prime. And then from the Fermat's little theorem it follows that with prime q>2c the numbers c^(q-1)-a^(q-1) and c^(q-1)-b^(q-1) are multiple by q.
And since, according to lemma, the numbers (c^(q-1)-a^(q-1))/(c-a) and (c^(q-1)-b^(q-1))/(c-b) are mutually-prime (i.e. have no common factor), then one of the numbers c-a and c-b is divided by q (>2c>c-b>c-a), i.e., the solution of the Fermat’s equation is not integer.

It remains to learn, who and when proved lemma.
 
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  • #2
I hope nobody proved that lemma; it's not true!

Here's the smallest counterexample I could find:

a = 2
b = 2
c = 3
n = 3

a, b, c don't have a common factor.

c-a = 1
c-b = 1

These don't have a common factor

(c^n - a^n) / (c-a) = 19
(c^n - b^n) / (c-b) = 19

These do have a common factor.


Here's the smallest I could find with a and b unequal:

a = 1
b = 4
c = 9
n = 3

These don't have a common factor.

c-a = 8
c-b = 5

These don't have a common factor.

(c^3 - a^3) / (c-a) = 91
(c^3 - b^3) / (c-b) = 133

These do have a common factor: 7.


Here's another:

a = 5
b = 6
c = 17
n = 3

c-a = 12
c-b = 11

(c^3 - a^3) / (c-a) = 399
(c^3 - b^3) / (c-b) = 427

These do have a common factor: 7.
 
  • #3
Hurkyl said:
I hope nobody proved that lemma; it's not true!

Here's the smallest I could find with a and b unequal:

a = 1
b = 4
c = 9
n = 3

These don't have a common factor.

c-a = 8
c-b = 5

These don't have a common factor.

(c^3 - a^3) / (c-a) = 91
(c^3 - b^3) / (c-b) = 133

These do have a common factor: 7.

Outstanding counterexamples!

Therefore I make correction to the Lemma:
the additional condition: a+b=c.
By the way, now to prove the lemma it is much easier.
 
  • #4
Then feel free to post the proof.
 
  • #5
Lemma

matt grime said:
Then feel free to post the proof.
Here are the minimum requirements for the lemma, necessary for the brief proof of the FLT: "Lemma. If integers a, b, c have only one common divisor 1, a+b=c and numbers (c^n-a^n) and (c^n-b^n) have common divisor d>2, then with n>1 one of the numbers c-b, c-a, a+b, c+b, c+a, a-b is divided by d ".
 
  • #6
Victor Sorokine said:
Outstanding counterexamples!

Therefore I make correction to the Lemma:
the additional condition: a+b=c.
By the way, now to prove the lemma it is much easier.
No it's not.

a = 3, b = 10, c = 13, n = 3 is another counterexample.
a = 5, b = 12, c = 17, n = 3 is another.

If you're guessing, call it a conjecture. You can't call something a lemma until you have actually proven it.



Victor Sorokine said:
Here are the minimum requirements for the lemma, necessary for the brief proof of the FLT: ...
matt asked you to post the proof. That's not a proof.
 
  • #7
Hurkyl said:
No it's not.

a = 3, b = 10, c = 13, n = 3 is another counterexample.
a = 5, b = 12, c = 17, n = 3 is another.

Your counterexamples speak about the accuracy of the Lemma:
10-3=7,
12-5=7.
Consequently, it is possible to begin the search for its proof.
 
  • #8
Victor Sorokine said:
Your counterexamples speak about the accuracy of the Lemma:
10-3=7,
12-5=7.
Consequently, it is possible to begin the search for its proof.

What do you mean by accuracy of the lemma? If there exists A counter example then it isn't true.
 
  • #9
d_leet said:
What do you mean by accuracy of the lemma? If there exists A counter example then it isn't true.

Here is the Lemma, which easily proves and which is sufficient for the brief proof of the FLT:
Lemma. If integers a, b, c have only one common divisor 1, a+b=c, number (c^n-a^n) and (c^n-b^n) have common prime divisor d>3c^2, in base d numbers a^n, b^n, c^n finish by digit 1, then with n>1 either number (a^n-b^n)/(a+b) is not divided by d, or number 3c^2 is divided into d ".

to be continued
 
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  • #10
Lemma And Its Proof

Victor Sorokine said:
to be continued

Lemma.
If integers a, b, c have only one common divisor 1, a+b=c, and number (c^n-a^n) and (c^n-b^n) have common prime divisor d>3c^2, and in base d numbers a^n, b^n, c^n finish by digit 1, then with n>1 either number (a^n-b^n)/(a+b) is not divided by d, or number 3c^2 is divided by d.

Proof.
Let us assume that number (a^n-b^n)/(a+b) is divided by d.
Then number S=(c^n-b^n)/(c-b)+(c^n-a^n)/(c-a)+(a^n-b^n)/(a+b), or
(c^n-b^n)/a+(c^n-a^n)/b+(a^n-b^n)/c = [c^(n+2)+b^(n+2)+(a+b)c^(n+1]/abc=
=[c^2+b^2+a(c+b)]/abc, is divided by d.
But since number a^n, b^n, c^n finish by number 1, then the number s = c^2+b^2+a(c+b), where 0<s<d, is single-digit number and, therefore, number S is NOT DIVIDED by d.
 
  • #11
Elementary proof of Fermat's last theorem

Victor Sorokine said:
Lemma.
If integers a, b, c have only one common divisor 1, a+b=c, and number (c^n-a^n) and (c^n-b^n) have common prime divisor d>3c^2, and in base d numbers a^n, b^n, c^n finish by digit 1, then with n>1 either number (a^n-b^n)/(a+b) is not divided by d, or number 3c^2 is divided by d.

Elementary proof of Fermat's last theorem

According to known theorem from the theory of integers, for any prime n there exist infinite great number of the prime numbers d of form d=pn+1, where p is integer. (This theorem is the simple consequence from the fact that, if numbers a and b are mutually-prime and n prime, then each divisor of the number (a^n+b^n)/(a+b) takes form pn+1).

Proof FLT:
Let us take simple d>c^(4n). Then, according to Fermat's little theorem, the numbers C^p-B^p, C^p-A^p, A^p-B^p, where C=c^n, B=b^n; A=a^n, are divided by d. And since A+B=C, then, according to Lemma, number 3C^2 is divided by d>3C^2. Consequently, the solution of Fermat’s equation is not integer.
 
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  • #12
Can't you just stop posting this nonsense?
 
  • #13
arildno said:
Can't you just stop posting this nonsense?

OK!
 
  • #14
Lemma is not true

Victor Sorokine said:
Lemma.
If integers a, b, c have only one common divisor 1, a+b=c, and number (c^n-a^n) and (c^n-b^n) have common prime divisor d>3c^2, and in base d numbers a^n, b^n, c^n finish by digit 1, then with n>1 either number (a^n-b^n)/(a+b) is not divided by d, or number 3c^2 is divided by d.

Lemma is not true. New version of the lemma:
If in the simple base q the mutually-simple numbers A^p, B^p, C^p (where C=c^n, B=b^n, A=a^n, prime n>2 and p=/q-1) finish by digit 1, then either A+B and A-B or C+B and C-B, or C+A and C-A have common divisor not equal to 1.
Today I have not its proof.

Time out
 
  • #15
I repeat, if you don't have a proof, then the correct term is conjecture. You cannot (correctly) call it a lemma until it has been proven.
 
  • #16
This guys tried to post the same thing in scienceforums.net, except there he blatantly said he was proving FLT. He was surprised when no one took him seriously >.<

Mate its good your trying, but wait till you learn abit more math. Fermat would have known this stuff.
 

FAQ: How was Fermat's Last Theorem Proved?

What is Fermat's Last Theorem?

Fermat's Last Theorem is a mathematical theorem that states that no three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation an + bn = cn for any integer value of n greater than 2.

Who proved Fermat's Last Theorem?

The theorem was originally proposed by French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in the 17th century, but it was not until 1994 that British mathematician Andrew Wiles provided a complete proof for the theorem.

How did Andrew Wiles prove Fermat's Last Theorem?

Wiles' proof relied on a combination of techniques from algebraic geometry, number theory, and modular forms. He spent seven years working on the proof and presented it in a series of lectures at a conference in Cambridge, England in 1993.

What was the significance of proving Fermat's Last Theorem?

Fermat's Last Theorem had been a long-standing unsolved problem in mathematics for over 350 years. Its proof not only solved a famous and important mathematical puzzle, but also opened up new areas of research and advanced the understanding of algebraic number theory.

Are there any practical applications of Fermat's Last Theorem?

While the theorem itself may not have direct practical applications, the techniques used to prove it have been applied to other areas of mathematics and science. For example, the proof has led to advancements in cryptography and the study of elliptic curves.

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