Pierre de Fermat (mathematician)

Pierre de Fermat was a 17th-century French mathematician known for his work in number theory, algebra, and calculus. He famously posed the “Last Theorem,” claiming that no three positive integers \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) satisfy \(a^n + b^n = c^n\) for any integer \(n > 2\), a puzzle unsolved for centuries until Andrew Wiles proved it in 1994. Fermat made significant contributions to calculus, probability, and analytic geometry, laying groundwork for modern mathematics. His innovative ideas and deep insights continue to influence mathematical thought today.