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Essay / Fermat's Last Theorem - 1905
Rationale: The Pythagorean theorem is a simple equation that was taught to students from the beginning of middle school. a2+b2=c2 is the basic formula for calculating one of the sides of a right triangle. Although they begin with basic reinforcement of the use of this theorem, the uses of this theorem intensify over years of study. It is integrated with trigonometry, helping students solve non-right angle problems combining several mathematical methods. The Pythagorean Theorem helps many architects, engineers and chemists in their respective careers. Through this exploration, I wanted to delve deeper into the mathematical world and see how far mathematics can be interpreted by those who have the means to do so. Fermat's Last Theorem is a very complex and twisty theorem that took several centuries to solve, with just one curious thought to start it all. One of the many proofs of the Pythagorean theorem. Pythagorean Theorem: Pythagoras was an ancient Greek mathematician who proposed the equation a2+b2=c2 to prove that the hypotenuse of a right triangle can be found by adding the squared values of the two adjacent sides. Although there are many proofs to support that this theorem is true, above I have shown one that is well known and used in school core courses for a clearer understanding of the equation. If one took the lengths of sides a and b, then squared the two values, they would arrive at squares which, when rearranged, would correspond to the largest square of the hypotenuse. The Pythagorean theorem is what got Fermat thinking about his own theorem, as he had wondered if there could be more possibilities coming from this equation.Introduction:Pierre de Fe...... middle of the article ...... roj/pf2html/proofs/pythagoras/pythagoras/ (accessed November 22, 2013). Works CitedFrizzell, Roberto. Interview by the author. Personal interview. Edmonton, AB, Canada, November 19, 2013. Fermat's Last Theorem. Movie. Directed by Simon Singh. London: BBC, 1996. Lipovski, Aleksandar. “Visualization of some simple algebro-geometric ideas.” Visualization of some simple algebro-geometric ideas. http://vismath2.tripod.com/lip/ (accessed November 22, 2013). Learned, Marilyn. “Pierre de Fermat and the last theorem.” In The World's Most Famous Math Problem: The Proof of Fermat's Last Theorem and Other Mathematical Mysteries. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1993. 20-31. Slany, Wolfgang. “A visual proof of the Pythagorean theorem.” A visual proof of the Pythagorean theorem. http://www.dbai.tuwien.ac.at/proj/pf2html/proofs/pythagoras/pythagoras/ (accessed November 22, 2013).