Comments on: .: Fermat’s Enigma

By: Ananth

Ananth — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 02:41:03 +0000

And to quote Wiles, ” The definition of a good mathematical problem is the mathematics it generates rather than the problem itself”.

By: Anantha

Anantha — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 01:35:04 +0000

Pramod, first things first. All that I tried saying through the blog was about the theorem which I did not know (and probably even you did not) existed till the time my advisor gave me the book to read. And I thought it was quite fascinating, since the book talks in detail about the history of math and the evolution of the number theory.
Maybe its of no use yet in its direct form, but as I read the book , I find that a lot of interesting things were proven just because mathematicians wanted to get to the root of this problem. You and I end up using so many equations in life which is due to the fact that its proven once and forever, and there is no iota of doubt about it. Math for a change is different than science, as there is nothing like a half truth in math. Something thats proven is proven for ever, unlike science where you make discoveries every century. When Pythogoras died, he did not have to worry about the validity of his theorem in 2010.
Keep adding spice my boy……….

By: pramod

pramod — Mon, 11 Oct 2004 07:10:04 +0000

i happened to read the interview of Andrew Wiles after my previous post and observe that NOVA asked him the same q as i did? not convinced with the answer though.

By: pramod

pramod — Mon, 11 Oct 2004 07:01:04 +0000

I’m just trying to be introspective. Yes! proving something right or wrong is a challenge. I dont really know what this theorem wud help in. But spending 30 years to solve a theorem………what was the light at the end of the long tunnel that motivated him…….just the satisfaction of having proved a theorem???? and what have u tried to say with that blog????? U know i love adding spice to discussions, heres some spice for you!!!!!!!