This book is intended for amateurs, students and teachers. The author presents partial results which could be obtained with exclusively elementary methods. The proofs are given in detail, with minimal prerequisites. An original feature are the ten interludes, devoted to important topics of elementary number theory, thus making the reading of this book self-contained. Their interest goes beyond Fermat's theorem. The Epilogue is a serious attempt to render accessible the strategy of the recent proof of Fermat's last theorem, a great mathematical feat.

Preliminary Booksellers Text: Do Not Use. In 1995, Andrew Wiles published two papers containing a proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. BRAVO FOR THIS GREAT MATHEMATICAL FEAT! Nevertheless, one shouldn't dismiss the earlier attempts to solve the problems. From giants in mathematics to clever amateurs, all did their best. In this book, aimed at amateurs, teachers, and mathematicians curious about the unfolding of the subject, the author restricts his attention exclusively to elementary methods. There are other books about Wiles' proof but the reader without an extended solid background may prefer to stay with this book.

Ribenboim's presentation of attempts to solve Fermat's Last Theorem sheds new light on the possibilities and power of the language of mathematics This book is intended for amateurs. All results presented were obtained with exclusively elementary methods; proofs are given in detail with minimal prerequisites Original features are the ten interludes, devoted to important topics of elementary number theory, thus making this book self-contained The Epilogue is a serious attempt to render accessible the strategy of Wiles recent proof of Fermat's Last Theorem, a great mathematical feat

Autorentext
Paulo Ribenboim ist emeritierter Professor der kanadischen Queen's University, Fellow der Royal Society of Canada und Träger des George Pólya-Preises der Mathematical Association of America. Er ist Autor von 13 Büchern und über 150 Forschungsartikeln.

Zusammenfassung
Although this was certainly a great mathematical feat, one shouldn't dismiss earlier attempts made by mathematicians and clever amateurs to solve the problem. In this book, aimed at amateurs curious about the history of the subject, the author restricts his attention exclusively to elementary methods that have produced rich results.

Inhalt
The Problem.- Special Cases.- 4 Interludes.- Algebraic Restrictions on Hypothetical Solutions.- Germain's Theorem.- Interludes 5 and 6.- Arithmetic Restrictions on Hypothetical Solutions and on the Exponent.- Interludes 7 and 8.- Reformulations, Consequences, and Criteria.- Interludes 9 and 10.- The Local and Modular Fermat Problem.- Epilogue.