MA 240, Winter 2002, Instructor:  Jeffrey Horn

The Proof

Logistics

1. Pick someone to go get the tape from my mailbox in the dept. office.  It is already at the right place!
2. Put it into the VCR in 1209, turn on the power, use the remote to turn on the projector, push "source" button the remote for the projector and use the track ball to choose "composite video".  turn on the audio amp. above the vcr and switch it to "vcr", not "laptop" or "computer".  Crank up the sound.  If you have problems, call IMS at 2290 (use hallway courtesy phone or go to dept. office)  You  might need the remote for the VCR in order to adjust its tracking.
3. At end of class, return video to my mailbox.  Don't rewind!  If someone wants to borrow it, they'd better have it back for the next class session!
4. Read the next secion.

Goals

This movie is a peek into another world, that of the mathematician.  I don't expect ANYONE i know to understand the proof of Fermat's conjecture.  But I do expect you all to understand the conjecture itself, and to ask yourselves why is this a discrete math problem, as opposed to continuous.  Also, it is a human story.  Concentrate on the human emotions involved, the egos, the relationships. 

Answer these questions, (no need for an essay, but write me your answers in emails to jhorn@nmu.edu):

1. In the end, did Andrew Wiles really prove the theorem/conjecture or not?  How would you KNOW it is proven?
2. What do you think is the difference between a theorem and a conjecture?  Which is, or was, Fermat's statement?
3. Do you think Fermat really did have a proof?
4. Why did Andrew Wiles try to do this alone? 
5. In the end, was he able to do it alone?
6. If he had started out working on this publicly, do you think he would have (a) succeeded much faster, (b) taken even longer than he did, (c) been beaten to it by some colleague, or (d) failed to ever prove it or to have anyone else prove it?  Why do you think that?