Collins Modern Classics: Fermat's Last Theorem

Collins Modern Classics: Fermat's Last Theorem
Simon Singh
Our Price:
NZ$ 27.99
Paperback
h198 x 129mm - 368pg
26 May 2022 UK
International import eta 7-19 days
9780008553821
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
Quantity:
 
 
The extraordinary story of the solving of a puzzle that has confounded mathematicians since the 17th century. The solution of Fermat' s Last Theorem is the most important mathematical development of the 20th century. In 1963 a schoolboy browsing in his local library stumbled across the world' s greatest mathematical problem: Fermat' s Last Theorem, a puzzle that every child can understand but which has baffled mathematicians for over 300 years. Aged just ten, Andrew Wiles dreamed that he would crack it. Wiles' s lifelong obsession with a seemingly simple challenge set by a long-dead Frenchman is an emotional tale of sacrifice and extraordinary determination. In the end, Wiles was forced to work in secrecy and isolation for seven years, harnessing all the power of modern maths to achieve his childhood dream. Many before him had tried and failed, including a 18-century philanderer who was killed in a duel. An 18-century Frenchwoman made a major breakthrough in solving the riddle, but she had to attend maths lectures at the Ecole Polytechnique disguised as a man since women were forbidden entry to the school. A remarkable story of human endeavour and intellectual brilliance over three centuries, Fermat ' s Last Theorem will fascinate both specialist and general readers.
' This is probably the best popular account of a scientific topic I have ever read' Irish Times' Reads like the chronicle of an obsessive love affair. It has the classic ingredients that Hollywood would recognise' Daily Mail' To read it is to realise that there is a world of beauty and intellectual challenge that is denied to 99. 9 per cent of us who are not high-level mathematicians' The Times' This tale has all the elements of a most exciting story: an impenetrable riddle; the ambition and frustration of generations of hopefuls; and the genius who worked for years in secrecy to realise his childhood dream' Express
Simon Singh is a science journalist and TV producer. Having completed his PhD at Cambridge he worked from 1991 to 1997 at the BBC producing Tomorrow' s World and co-directing the BAFTA award-winning documentary Fermat' s Last Theorem for the Horizon series. In 1997, he published Fermat' s Last Theorem, which was a no 1 best-seller in Britain and translated into 22 languages. In 1999, he published The Code Book which was also an international bestseller and was the basis for the Channel 4 series The Science of Secrecy.

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information