Fermat's Last Theorem

The extraordinary story of the solving of a puzzle that has confounded mathematicians since the 17th century. The solution of Fermat's Last Theorem is the most important mathematical development of the 20th century. In 1963 a schoolboy browsing in his local library stumbled across the world's greatest mathematical problem: Fermat's Last Theorem, a puzzle that every child can understand but which has baffled mathematicians for over 300 years. Aged just ten, Andrew Wiles dreamed that he would crack it. Wiles's lifelong obsession with a seemingly simple challenge set by a long-dead Frenchman is an emotional tale of sacrifice and extraordinary determination. In the end, Wiles was forced to work in secrecy and isolation for seven years, harnessing all the power of modern maths to achieve his childhood dream. Many before him had tried and failed, including a 18-century philanderer who was killed in a duel. An 18-century Frenchwoman made a major breakthrough in solving the riddle, but she had to attend maths lectures at the Ecole Polytechnique disguised as a man since women were forbidden entry to the school. A remarkable story of human endeavour and intellectual brilliance over three centuries, Fermat 's Last Theorem will fascinate both specialist and general readers.

著者 | 西蒙·辛格（Simon Singh） 出生于英国萨默塞特郡，曾在伦敦帝国学院学习物理，并获剑桥大学粒子物理学博士学位。在BBC电视台《明日世界》工作5年后，参与了1996年获奖纪录片《地平线：费马大定理》的制作和导演。1999年出版《密码故事》一书。 译者 | 薛密 复旦大学数学研究所《数学年刊》编辑部编审。毕业于上海交通大学，长期从事英文编辑工作，译有《费马大定理》《上帝的方程式》等多本著作。其中《费马大定理》一书获第四届“全国优秀科普作品奖”三等奖，其繁体字版《费玛最后定理》获“吴大猷科学普及著作奖”佳作奖。