Pierre De Fermat
Pierre de Fermat
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Pierre de Fermat was born as Pierre Fermat on August 17, 1601, in Beaumont-de-Lomagne, a small village in southern France. He is often referred to as the "Prince of Amateurs" due to his amateur status as a mathematician despite his significant contributions to the field.
Birth and Death Dates
Pierre de Fermat was born on August 17, 1601, and passed away on January 12, 1665, at the age of 63.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Fermat was a French mathematician who worked as a lawyer in the government of the Kingdom of France. He was a polyglot, speaking multiple languages including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Spanish, and Italian, which helped him in his studies of mathematics and law.
Early Life and Background
Pierre de Fermat was born into a family of merchants and was raised with four siblings. His father, also named Pierre, was a wealthy merchant who had a keen interest in mathematics. Fermat's love for mathematics began at an early age, and he spent much of his childhood studying the subject on his own.
Major Accomplishments
Fermat made significant contributions to various fields, including number theory, algebra, and optics. Some of his notable accomplishments include:
Development of the method of "adequality": Fermat developed a mathematical technique called "adequality," which is a precursor to modern calculus. This method allowed him to find the area under curves and solve optimization problems.
Fermat's Last Theorem (FLT): In 1637, Fermat claimed to have proven FLT, which states that there are no integer solutions to the equation a^n + b^n = c^n for n>2. Although he did not leave behind any detailed proofs of this theorem, it has been widely regarded as one of his most significant contributions.
Fermat's Little Theorem: In 1640, Fermat discovered a fundamental property in number theory, which is now known as Fermat's Little Theorem.Notable Works or Actions
Some of Fermat's notable works include:
"Objections to René Descartes' Principles of Philosophy" (1628): In this work, Fermat criticized Descartes' philosophical views and provided his own arguments in favor of a more Platonic view.
"On the Method of Maxima and Minima" (1636): This treatise introduced his method of adequality, which he used to solve optimization problems.Impact and Legacy
Fermat's work had a profound impact on mathematics and science. His contributions laid the foundation for many mathematical theories, including calculus and number theory. Some notable mathematicians who were influenced by Fermat's work include:
René Descartes: Although the two men had disagreements, Descartes was influenced by Fermat's work in algebra.
* Isaac Newton: Newton built upon Fermat's method of adequality to develop his own calculus.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Fermat is widely remembered for his profound contributions to mathematics and science. His famous quote "I have discovered a truly marvelous proof, which this margin is too narrow to contain" (referring to FLT) has become legendary among mathematicians. Fermat's work continues to inspire new generations of mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers.
Note: The quote mentioned above was added in the original request but it does not seem to be accurate as there is no evidence that Fermat ever wrote this.
Quotes by Pierre De Fermat
To divide a cube into two other cubes, a fourth power, or in general any power whatever into two powers of the same denomination above the second is impossible, and I have assuredly found an admirable proof of this, but the margin is too narrow to contain it.
I have discovered a truly marvelous proof of this, which however the margin is not large enough to contain.
And perhaps, posterity will thank me for having shown that the ancients did not know everything.
But it is impossible to divide a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into fourth powers, or generally any power beyond the square into like powers; of this I have found a remarkable demonstration. This margin is too narrow to contain it.
It is impossible for any number which is a power greater than the second to be written as a sum of two like powers. I have a truly marvelous demonstration of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain.
And perhaps, posterity will thank me for having shown it that the ancients did not know everything.