Mathematics – History and Overview
Scientific paper
2008-01-11
Mathematics
History and Overview
to appear in Historia Mathematica
Scientific paper
10.1016/j.hm.2009.12.002
A study of Sophie Germain's extensive manuscripts on Fermat's Last Theorem calls for a reassessment of her work in number theory. There is much in these manuscripts beyond the single theorem for Case 1 for which she is known from a published footnote by Legendre. Germain had a fully-fledged, highly developed, sophisticated plan of attack on Fermat's Last Theorem. The supporting algorithms she invented for this plan are based on ideas and results discovered independently only much later by others, and her methods are quite different from any of Legendre's. In addition to her program for proving Fermat's Last Theorem in its entirety, Germain also made major efforts at proofs for particular families of exponents. The isolation Germain worked in, due in substantial part to her difficult position as a woman, was perhaps sufficient that much of this extensive and impressive work may never have been studied and understood by anyone.
Laubenbacher Reinhard
Pengelley David
No associations
LandOfFree
"Voici ce que j'ai trouve": Sophie Germain's grand plan to prove Fermat's Last Theorem does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with "Voici ce que j'ai trouve": Sophie Germain's grand plan to prove Fermat's Last Theorem, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and "Voici ce que j'ai trouve": Sophie Germain's grand plan to prove Fermat's Last Theorem will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-548300