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Fermat's Last Theorem Trivia Quiz

Fermat's last theorem remained unsolved for centuries until it was proven in the year 1995. Have fun and thanks for playing.

A multiple-choice quiz by Matthew_07. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Matthew_07

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
266,002

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1307

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Fermat's last theorem states that there is no solution for the equation x^n + y^n = z^n, where n is any integer greater than 2. Why was this theorem called the LAST theorem? Hint

Because this theorem appears on the last page of his book.

Because this theorem was the last of Fermat's theorems to be proved or disproved.

Because this theorem was published in a journal called "Last".

Because this theorem is the last one that Fermat came up with before he died.

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Question 2 of 10

2. Fermat wrote in "Arithmetica", "It is impossible to separate a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into two fourth powers, or in general, any power higher than the second into two like power. I have a truly marvelous proof of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain." However, this sentence was not written in the English language originally. Which language did this sentence first appear in? Hint

Latin

Spanish

Greek

Italian

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Question 3 of 10

3. It is interesting to find out that Pierre de Fermat was only an amateur mathematician. What was his main profession? Hint

Doctor

Teacher

Writer

Lawyer

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Question 4 of 10

4. For the equation x^n + y^n = z^n, Euler proved that for the case where n = 3, there were no integer solutions. Fermat himself provided the proof for a case where n = ? Hint

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Question 5 of 10

5. We know that there are infinitely many solutions to the equation x^2 + y^2 = z^2, when x, y and z are positive integers. What are these solutions called? Hint

The Gauss Triples

The Fermat Triples

The Pythagorean Triples

The Lagrange Triples

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which female mathematician, who took on a man's pseudonym, namely Monsieur Le Blanc, also attempted to prove Fermat's last theorem? Hint

Sophie Germain

Eva Tardos

Sofia Kovalevskaya

Maria Agnesi

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Question 7 of 10

7. By 1993, Fermat's last theorem was proved to be valid for all n from 3 to 4,000,000 by computers. Eventually, Fermat's last theorem was proven in the year 1995 by a mathematician. Who is he/she? Hint

Barry Mazur

Gerd Faltings

Andrew Wiles

Guy Terjanian

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Question 8 of 10

8. The proof of Fermat's last theorem was published in May 1995 in which mathematical journal? Hint

"Composito Mathematica"

"Annals of Mathematics"

"Pacific Journal of Mathematics"

"Journal of Number Theory"

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Question 9 of 10

9. The equation 1782^12 + 1841^12 = 1922^12 appeared on a television show. Using an electronic calculator, it may seem that this equation is valid. However, doing the calculation by using a computer shows that the answer only matches for the first 9 digits. Which television show was it? Hint

"Numbers"

"Friends"

"Smallville"

"The Simpsons"

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Question 10 of 10

10. There is no integer solution for the equation x^n + y^n = z^n for n greater than 2. However, is there any solution for the equation x^n + y^n + w^n = z^n, for n greater than 2?

Yes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Fermat's last theorem states that there is no solution for the equation x^n + y^n = z^n, where n is any integer greater than 2. Why was this theorem called the LAST theorem?

Answer: Because this theorem was the last of Fermat's theorems to be proved or disproved.

All of Fermat's other theorems have been proven or disproven by other mathematicians. Fermat's last theorem remained unproved from 1637 to 1995. Fermat died in 1665 and many mathematicians were very interested in this theorem.

Answer: Latin

The original Latin sentence was "Cubum autem in duos cubos, aut quadratoquadratum in duos quadratoquadratos, et generaliter nullam in infinitum ultra quadratum potestatem in duos eiusdem nominis fas est dividere cuius rei demonstrationem mirabilem sane detexi. Hanc marginis exiguitas non caperet."

3. It is interesting to find out that Pierre de Fermat was only an amateur mathematician. What was his main profession?

Answer: Lawyer

Initially, Fermat refused to publish his work on his theorem. It was a wise idea of his son, Samuel to collect his father's mathematics works.

4. For the equation x^n + y^n = z^n, Euler proved that for the case where n = 3, there were no integer solutions. Fermat himself provided the proof for a case where n = ?

Answer: 4

For the case n = 14, Dirichlet managed to provide a proof for this by the year 1832. For the case n = 7, it was successfully proved by Lame and Lebesgue.

5. We know that there are infinitely many solutions to the equation x^2 + y^2 = z^2, when x, y and z are positive integers. What are these solutions called?

Answer: The Pythagorean Triples

The simplest integer Pythagorean Triples is 3, 4, 5. Others include 5, 12, 13 and 7, 24, 25.

6. Which female mathematician, who took on a man's pseudonym, namely Monsieur Le Blanc, also attempted to prove Fermat's last theorem?

Answer: Sophie Germain

Sophie German was born in 1776 in Paris, France. She was a student to Lagrange, a great mathematician.

Answer: Andrew Wiles

Andrew Wiles grew up in Cambridge, England. He is a British mathematician and works as a professor in Princeton University, USA.

8. The proof of Fermat's last theorem was published in May 1995 in which mathematical journal?

Answer: "Annals of Mathematics"

The proof is 140 pages long. The theory of elliptic curves is used in this proof.

Answer: "The Simpsons"

The equation 1782^12 + 1841^12 = 1922^12 appeared in the episode "Treehouse of Horror VI" of "The Simpsons". Another wrong equation, 3987^12 + 4365^12 = 4472^12 appeared in another episode, "The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace".

10. There is no integer solution for the equation x^n + y^n = z^n for n greater than 2. However, is there any solution for the equation x^n + y^n + w^n = z^n, for n greater than 2?

Answer: Yes

Yes, the equation x^n + y^n + w^n = z^n has infinitely many solutions. One of them is 3^3 + 4^3 + 5^3 = 6^3.

Source: Author Matthew_07

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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