Fermat's Enigma

Fermat was a fascinating figure, juggling several roles as a civil servant, lawyer, and amateur mathematician. Though brilliant, he often failed to provide sufficient proof for his mathematical discoveries, which ultimately led to the creation of “Fermat's last theorem.” This theorem, which states that xn+yn=zn has no solutions for n greater than 2, is relatively straightforward for those with a high school math education. However, Fermat's claim that he had a “marvelous demonstration” of the proposition that was too long to fit in the margin left mathematicians baffled for centuries.

In his book, Singh takes readers on a journey through the history of mathematics, beginning with Pythagoras and working his way to Fermat's theorem and the centuries-long hunt for a proof. He weaves in the story of Andrew Wiles, who began working on the proof at age 10 and became utterly obsessed with it, working alone for years until he finally presented a three-part lecture in Cambridge. His proof was initially celebrated, but a gap was found, sending Wiles into despair. He eventually had a breakthrough and fixed the gap, culminating in a triumphant success that reads like a Hollywood plot.

This book is not just for math enthusiasts but for anyone who loves a good story. It's a tale of perseverance, failure, and ultimate triumph, with plenty of fascinating history along the way. Highly recommended