Date: 1 May 2006 00:44:33 -0000 From: Larry Shiller <marketing@shillermath.com> To: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Subject: Your May 2006 ShillerMath Tidbit Message-ID: <20060501004433.16832.qmail@borg.phpwebhosting.com>
next in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
ShillerMath Tidbits: Biography Series #2
[parentzone.gif]
Fermat and Wiles: A 330 year relationship
A 220 page margin intertwined two lives...
A Frenchman, lawyer, and "only" an amateur mathematician, Pierre de
Fermat lived from 1601 to 1665 and gained a well-deserved reputation
for original work in geometry and number theory. A surprising footnote
is that he survived the plague in 1653. Another is that he found
errors in the works of both Galileo and Descartes - for which the
latter tried to destroy Fermat's reputation!
Fermat's Last Theorem states that the equation x^n + y^n = z^n has no
non-zero integer solutions for x, y and z when n > 2. Until 1994, it
was also known as Fermat's Last Conjecture: Fermat wrote, in the
margin of Bachet's translation of Diophantus's Arithmetica, "I have
discovered a truly remarkable proof which this margin is not large
enough to contain." Little did he realize it would take 340 years and
a 220 page margin for others to discover!
The British mathematician Andrew Wiles apparently proved Fermat's
conjecture in June 1993. But close examination revealed that one piece
of the proof - the proof of the Taniyama-Shimura conjecture - which
required the bridging of two seemingly unrelated branches of
mathematics, was not complete. The person who proved the
Taniyama-Shimura conjecture would get the credit for proving Fermat's
Last theorem. In November 1994 it was again Wiles who claimed to have
a complete and correct proof, which has now been accepted.
Born April 11, 1953, Sir Andrew John Wiles enjoys a distinguished
career as a brilliant number theorist. He was educated at The Leys
School Cambridge, graduated from the University of Oxford in 1974, and
earned his Ph.D. at Clare College of the University of Cambridge in
1979. Sir Wiles is now a Professor and Chair of the Mathematics
Department at Princeton University.
In the future we will take a look at other great unsolved math
mysteries. In the next ShillerMath Tidbit we debunk a common math
learning myth.
[funnybone.gif]
Mathematics and the Arts...
For those of you who love math and partake in such mundane matters as
watching movies or TV, here is a short don't-miss titles list:
Numb3rs. On this TV show in its 3rd season, David Krumholtz plays
Charlie Eppes, TV's first major character who is a mathematician - and
a pretty darn good one at that!
Proof. Written by David Auburn, this play features mathematicians in
three of the four main roles. Alas it attempts to prove more than just
theorems but that's where things get interesting...
Fermat's Last Tango. A musical by Joshua Rosenblum and Joanne Sydney
Lessner with numbers (sorry!) like "AfterMath" and ""Math Widow"
(golf, anyone?). The perfect follow-up to this month's tidbit.
I hope you enjoyed this short math break.
Sincerely,
[lssig.jpg]
Larry Shiller
Publisher
After months of creative and detailed work by our staff, ShillerMath
now has a new web site, with free white papers, downloads, and
diagnostic tests for ages 4-12. Please [1]visit and get your freebies
today!
Did you enjoy this Tidbit? Please tell your friends, family, and
fellow parents, teachers, administrators, librarians, and local
homeschool groups. Thank you for [2]spreading the word!
_________________________________________________________________
What is ShillerMath?
ShillerMath publishes research-based math curriculum, music,
manipulatives, and worksheets for ages 4-12, with beautifully designed
lessons, diagnostic tests with answer keys, catchy math songs, and
Montessori-based manipulatives. No Montessori or math knowledge is
required and there's zero lesson preparation - just read what's in
quotes and you're good to go! Students using this approach
consistently outperform their peers. Larry Shiller, ShillerMath
founder and President, has a math degree from MIT. The ShillerMath
curriculum includes authoritative materials and lessons used by
thousands of Montessori schools and is the math curriculum of choice
for public, private, and homeschooled students throughout the world.
Plase visit the [3]ShillerMath site for all the details on this proven
and amazingly effective product.
If you no longer wish to receive ShillerMath emails please [4]click
here to unsubscribe.
ShillerMath never sells or rents emails:
[5]http://www.shillermath.com/sm/privacy.php
References
1. http://www.shillermath.com/sm/home.php?src=tidbit20060501&email=freebsd-chat@freebsd.org
2. http://www.shillermath.com/sm/home.php?src=tidbit20060501&em=freebsd-chat@freebsd.org&url=recommendnews.php
3. http://www.shillermath.com/sm/home.php?src=tidbit20060501&em=freebsd-chat@freebsd.org
4. http://www.shillermath.com/sm/unsubscribe.php?Unsubscribe=freebsd-chat@freebsd.org
5. http://www.shillermath.com/sm/home.php?src=tidbit20060501&em=freebsd-chat@freebsd.org&url=privacy.php
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?20060501004433.16832.qmail>