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Pierre de Fermat

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The Resume

    (August 17, 1601-January 12, 1665)
    Discovered 'Fermat's Last Theorem,' which states x^n + y^n = z^n, has no non-zero integer solutions for x, y and z when n > 2
    Died of a plague

Why he might be annoying:

    He was an amateur mathematician and stubbornly refused to publish his work.
    Since he didn't want to publish his theorems they were scattered on notepads, letters and in margins of books.
    His son undertook the task of collecting Fermat's papers and publishing them.
    The date of the 'last theorem' is not exactly known but estimated to be written in the margin of a math book around 1630.
    He writes 'I have discovered a truly remarkable proof which this margin is too small to contain.'
    Many experts feel that his proof may have contained an error, as he never sent out the challenge to prove it to other mathematicians.
    He and Rene Descartes found themselves at odds when he pointed out that Descartes had not correctly deduced the law of refraction.
    Descartes praised Fermat in letters but back stabbed him in front of other scientists of that day.
    Descartes knowingly made false claims that Fermat was incorrect and an inadequate mathematician which severely damaged Fermat's reputation.

Why he might not be annoying:

    It took over 350 years to prove Fermat's Last Theorem (proven 1993).
    He would challenge his contemporary mathematicians by sending them math problems he had solved.

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 20 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 20 Votes: 35.00% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 28 Votes: 60.71% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 20 Votes: 45.00% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 25 Votes: 48.00% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 60 Votes: 68.33% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 118 Votes: 49.15% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 174 Votes: 53.45% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 226 Votes: 42.92% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 503 Votes: 50.89% Annoying
    In 2002, Out of 1701 Votes: 47.33% Annoying
    In 2001, Out of 4007 Votes: 44.80% Annoying