Product Description

This book is an introduction to algebraic number theory via the famous problem of "Fermat's Last Theorem." The exposition follows the historical development of the problem, beginning with the work of Fermat and ending with Kummer's theory of "ideal" factorization, by means of which the theorem is proved for all prime exponents less than 37. The more elementary topics, such as Euler's proof of the impossibilty of x+y=z, are treated in an elementary way, and new concepts and techniques are introduced only after having been motivated by specific problems. The book also covers in detail the application of Kummer's ideal theory to quadratic integers and relates this theory to Gauss' theory of binary quadratic forms, an interesting and important connection that is not explored in any other book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #982801 in Books
• Published on: 2000-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 407 pages

Customer Reviews

Better than Singh
Much better than Singh's book of the same name, this book goes in depth into the early attempts of proof of the theorem. Although it is missing the next (crucial) twenty years of history, it outlines the maths involved in the earlier attempts on the puzzle, something I thought was distinctly lacking in Singh's book.

I think it is an interesting, if not a little overpriced, book on the subject for those left annoyed by Singh's lack of explanation