Pierre de Fermat

Pierre de Fermat was a 17th-century French mathematician known for his contributions to number theory and for formulating Fermat's Last Theorem, which claims that no three positive integers can satisfy the equation \(x^n + y^n = z^n\) for any integer \(n\) greater than 2. He also developed concepts in calculus and probability and created Fermat's Little Theorem, a fundamental result in number theory concerning prime numbers. Fermat's work laid the groundwork for modern mathematics, inspiring generations of mathematicians, especially in the fields of algebra and number theory. His insights often arose in the margins of books he read, leading to his reputation as a pioneering thinker.