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

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.